Table of contents

Important dates

Application status: Closed

Overview

Water for Life funding is available to regional commissions or groups of 2 or more municipalities for new regional water or wastewater systems.

Funding

Funding levels vary depending on the project type.

Table 1. Funding levels at a glance

Project type Funding
Pipelines for new regional water or wastewater systems 90% of project costs
Feasibility studies to evaluate potential new regional systems 100% of project costs
Existing water or wastewater treatment facility upgrades at a hub-supplier's plant or at a commission-owned plant for new customers Up to 100% of project costs
Ensure pipeline has the capacity for future extensions to additional regional customers 100% of project costs

Example:

Project type: A pipeline extension to 3 towns and one non-eligible industrial partner that needs 25% of the project capacity. Water is obtained from a 4th hub municipality.

Total project cost: $15 million:

  • $10 million for the pipeline, consisting of:
    • $9 million: cost of the pipeline to serve the 3 municipalities
    • $1 million: ensure the pipeline be built large enough for a future extension to a 4th municipality.
  • $5 million for the capacity upgrade at the hub supplier water treatment plant
    • 60% of the plant upgrade is for the new customers

Project partners:

  • 3 municipalities with a total official population of 7,000
    • Community A: 1,000
    • Community B: 2,300
    • Community C: 3,700
  • Agricultural processing industry (non-eligible industrial partner) that uses 25% of project capacity
  • Hub supplier’s population: 100,000

Table 2. The total grant for this project example is calculated as follows:

Funding level Funding calculation
Pipeline cost
90% of pipeline cost for new customers 90% = $8.1 million
100% of pipeline cost for future customers 100% = $1 million
Plant upgrade cost
100% for plant upgrade costs for new customers 60% x $5 million = $3 million
0% for plant upgrades for hub supplier’s (4th municipality) population 40% x $5 million = $0
TOTAL $12.1 million (80.67 % of project costs)

Eligibility

  • Eligible applicants

    Funding under Water for Life is available to all regional commissions or groups of 2 or more municipalities (or eligible hamlets) that are eligible for funding under the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP):

    • regional commissions
    • groups of 2 or more eligible municipalities (or eligible hamlets) which include:
      • cities (under 45,000 population)
      • towns
      • villages
      • summer villages
      • rural municipalities
      • Metis Settlements
    • municipal partnerships
    • public-private ventures
    • municipalities with contracted services to privately owned utilities

  • Additional criteria

    • Environmental requirements may be taken into account as well as efficiencies in management and operational practices.
    • Municipalities are required to carry out projects on a contract basis.
    • All services, material and equipment used on funded projects must be from the private sector.
    • Municipalities are encouraged to support Alberta companies supplying goods and services to the waterworks and wastewater industry.
    • The applicant must demonstrate that the regional project option is cost-effective and can be economically justified compared to other facility solutions.

    Optional application information

    • Provide full lifecycle costs of the project (include initial capital costs, maintenance and operating costs).
    • Asset management planning information.
    • Identify any innovative construction material or water/wastewater techniques that will reduce construction and operating costs.

  • Optional application information

    • Provide full lifecycle costs of the project (include initial capital costs, maintenance and operating costs).
    • Asset management planning information.
    • Identify any innovative construction material or water/wastewater techniques that will reduce construction and operating costs.

  • Eligible costs

    The grant can cover the following costs:

    • construction costs
    • right-of-way acquisition and/or land costs, including expropriation costs
    • relocation and adjustment of associated utilities
    • engineering costs
    • survey fees
    • legal fees
    • advertising for tenders
    • other costs (such as audit fees)

    Municipalities should contact us to determine eligibility of other related costs.

  • Ineligible costs

How to apply

Step 1. Select project

Municipalities should contact us prior to applying to discuss the eligibility of proposed projects.

The municipal council must make a motion to apply for funding for the project.

Step 2. Complete the application package

We will work with the municipality to review the scope of work and the cost-effectiveness of the project.

Directors and Managers in regional offices are available to provide advice to the municipality during the preparation of the project proposal.

Include the following documents in the application package:

  • a letter to the Regional Director in the Transportation Regional Office (PDF, 148 KB) from each member municipality or the regional commission requesting funding
  • request for funding
  • project description
  • project rationale (design criteria)
  • proposed implementation schedule
  • detailed cost estimates following the cost estimate requirements
  • outline of how the municipal share of project costs will be funded (if applicable)
  • proposed rates and the impact on the cost for services for each member municipality
  • rate base for water and wastewater service and the extent of metering for each member municipality
  • method of procurement
  • asset management planning information (where applicable)
  • outline any innovative construction materials used or techniques

The municipality must enter the project information in the Municipal Grants Management Application.

Step 3. Submit the application package

Submit the application package in person or by mail to your local Transportation Regional Office (PDF, 148 KB).

Find your region by checking the Municipalities, Locations and Corresponding Transportation Regions list (PDF, 608 KB).

After you apply

Applicants will be notified in writing of the project's eligibility for funding.

Project approval is conditional upon funding availability and the suitability of the project.

Applications will be evaluated based on:

  • project size
  • design
  • staging
  • need
  • cost-effectiveness
  • municipal population (actual and projected)

The following will also be considered:

  • date the application is submitted
  • type of project, prioritized as follows:
    • Priority 1: health-related improvements involving upgrading water treatment or water supply facilities
    • Priority 2: environmental protection improvements related to wastewater treatment projects affecting the environment
    • Priority 3: system and development related improvements, such as safety, fire protection and operational improvements

  • Step 1. Sign memorandum of agreement

    in consultation with the municipality, will select a payment method for each approved project. Larger, more complex projects will require a formal agreement with the municipality.

    We will develop a memorandum of agreement outlining its responsibilities and the municipality’s responsibilities. The agreement will include a grant calculation chart and grant payments schedule.

    The mayor or reeve and chief administrative officer must sign 2 copies of the agreement on behalf of the municipality. The signed copies must be witnessed or sealed and then returned to the department for execution.

  • Step 2. Select construction basis

    Work on the funded project must be done on a contract basis.

    Work undertaken with municipal forces (equipment and labour) is not eligible under the program.

    When renting equipment for construction on a day labour basis, the rental rates for equipment must not exceed the current year rental rates as published in the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association’s Equipment Rental Rates and Membership Roster.

    The municipality must advertise tenders for projects undertaken on a contract basis.

  • Step 3. Accept lowest bid

    Municipalities are required to award work to the lowest bona fide bidder when tendering projects funded by the department.

    If the municipality accepts a higher bid without prior approval from the department, the municipality will jeopardize the grant funding for its project.

    If the municipality believes there are exceptional circumstances where the lowest bid is unacceptable, it must submit a written report to us requesting approval to award to other than the low bidder.

    The report must clearly explain the municipality’s reasons for the recommendation and provide details of all tenders received. The department will review the report and advise the municipality how it will impact the grant funding.

    The municipality must provide the following information before receiving payment:

    • a summary of tenders
    • price schedule of the selected tender
    • estimated construction start date
    • project costs to date

  • Step 4. Conduct work

    The municipality is responsible for:

    • financing the entire cost of the project
    • getting all necessary permits, licences, authorities, property easements and lands
    • retaining competent engineering expertise as required to meet provincially acceptable design, construction and environmental standards
    • building the project at sole risk in accordance with the project's plans and specifications
    • assuming all liability for damage claims related to the project

  • Step 5. Receive advance payment(s)

    After we have reviewed the project status it may provide the municipality with an advance payment which is a portion of the estimated grant.

    Depending on the program’s cash flow and the status of project, the amount and timing of funding payments may vary.

    The timing of the payments can be structured to flow with the construction of the project as determined during the approval process.

    The final payment is then issued upon completion and verification of costs.

  • Step 6. Deposit funds in separate account

    Funds received that exceed current expenditures must be invested in a separate account.

    The interest earned from these funds must be applied to reduce the total project costs, excluding GST.

    Project revenue earned through the investment of these funds will be deducted from project costs before the grant calculation is made.

    Contact us for more information on this interest policy.

  • Step 8. Complete work

    Once the municipality is satisfied that the project is complete, it must notify us and prepare its submission for final payment.

    The department may either inspect the project work or ask the municipality to provide evidence that a professional engineer completed an inspection.

  • Step 10. Receive final payment

    We will review the final claim before making the final payment to the municipality.

    The department may audit projects that receive grant funding.

Related

Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership

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