Water Pollution Control Plant Renewal Project

NEW: October 24 Open House Information Now Available

Missed the Wastewater Treatment Plant Renewal Project Open House? The information boards are now available online!

Scroll down to the News Feed section to review the slides and learn how to share your questions and feedback.

Planning for Yorkton’s future wastewater needs

The City of Yorkton is planning a major renewal of the H.M. Bailey Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP).

The existing plant was commissioned in 1991 and has served Yorkton for more than 35 years. Since then, the community, local economy and environmental requirements for wastewater treatment have changed significantly.

Today, the plant treats wastewater from approximately 18,000 residents as well as major commercial and industrial users. In 2025, the total wastewater load entering the facility was equivalent to that generated by a population of approximately 38,449 people.

Renewing the plant will help Yorkton:

meet current and future wastewater treatment requirements;
replace aging infrastructure and equipment;
improve the reliability and resilience of the wastewater system;
provide capacity for future residential, commercial, institutional and industrial development; and
support Yorkton’s long-term growth.

Project at a glance

Existing plant: Commissioned in 1991
Current age: Approximately 35 years
Wastewater load: Equivalent to approximately 38,449 people in 2025
Current design stage: Approximately 60%
Current Class 3 estimate: Approximately $211 million to $343 million
Next milestone: Advance engineering toward approximately 90% design
Construction: Subject to funding and future Council decisions

Project information, timelines and cost estimates will continue to change as engineering progresses. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.

Why does the Water Pollution Control Plant need to be renewed?

The H.M. Bailey Water Pollution Control Plant has served the community since 1991. Many components are now reaching or exceeding their expected service life, and replacement parts for some original equipment are increasingly difficult to obtain.

Yorkton’s wastewater needs have also changed significantly since the facility was built.

The growth of Yorkton’s agri-processing sector has increased both the volume and strength of wastewater entering the municipal system. The plant now treats a wastewater load substantially greater than Yorkton’s residential population alone would generate.

Environmental standards have also evolved. The City’s current Permit to Operate includes an E. coli disinfection requirement. The existing plant was constructed without a dedicated disinfection process, meaning new treatment infrastructure is required to meet that standard.

Renewal is needed to provide the treatment capacity and technology Yorkton requires today and into the future.

Construction of the H.M. Bailey Water Pollution Control Plant.

Yorkton’s wastewater needs have grown

Major agri-processing investment has played an important role in Yorkton’s economic growth.

Louis Dreyfus Company commissioned its Yorkton canola crushing facility in 2009, followed by Richardson Oilseed in 2010. Both facilities have since grown significantly. Richardson’s expanded facility has a canola crushing capacity of approximately 2.5 million tonnes per year, while Louis Dreyfus Company is expanding its facility to approximately 2.4 million tonnes per year.

This industrial activity creates wastewater demands well beyond what would normally be expected in a community of Yorkton’s population.

In 2025, the H.M. Bailey WPCP treated a wastewater load equivalent to approximately 38,449 people, compared with Yorkton’s residential population of approximately 18,000.

The renewed facility is being planned around what Yorkton’s wastewater system serves today, as well as the capacity the community will need in the future.

Left, the Louis Dreyfus Company canola crushing facility serviced by Yorkton. Right, the Richardson canola crushing facility serviced by Yorkton.

What has the City done so far?

Planning for renewal of the Water Pollution Control Plant has been underway for several years.

Work completed or underway includes:

a Downstream Use and Impact Study;
an FCM-supported business case and preliminary design;
environmental assessments;
geotechnical and hydrogeological assessments;
aquifer storage and recovery modelling;
evaluation of potential construction phases;
value engineering to identify opportunities to reduce project costs;
ongoing detailed engineering design; and
engagement with regulators, industry, residents and other levels of government.

The City has invested more than $4.375 million in studies, assessments and design work to date and has committed additional funding to advance the project toward approximately 90% design.

As of 2026, the project has advanced to approximately 60% design.

Working with local industry

Renewing the municipal plant is only one part of managing Yorkton’s wastewater system.

In 2017, the City launched a Pollution Prevention Program to work with major industrial wastewater customers to reduce the strength of wastewater before it enters the City’s treatment system.

Since that time, the program has resulted in more than $130 million in private-sector wastewater pre-treatment investment.

These improvements have helped improve the quality of wastewater entering the municipal plant and extended the useful operating life of the existing facility while the City plans its long-term renewal.

What is being planned?

The WPCP renewal project is being designed as a comprehensive upgrade to Yorkton’s wastewater treatment system.

Planning to date has considered improvements including:

new screening, grit removal and incoming-flow management;
modern secondary wastewater treatment;
E. coli disinfection;
nutrient removal;
improved management of high wastewater flows;
upgraded biosolids processing and dewatering;
new operational facilities; and
infrastructure that could support future reuse of treated wastewater.

The objective is to create a facility capable of meeting regulatory requirements while providing reliable wastewater treatment capacity for Yorkton’s long-term residential, commercial, institutional and industrial needs.

How much will the project cost?

Project cost estimates become more detailed as engineering progresses and quantities, construction requirements and project risks become better understood.

At the 30% design stage, value engineering reduced the project’s median estimate from approximately $234 million to $204 million.

The project has since advanced to approximately 60% design. At this stage, the Class 3 estimate ranges from approximately:

$211 million to $343 million

The $343-million figure represents the high end of the estimating range used at this stage of design. It should not be interpreted as a direct increase from the earlier $204-million median estimate, as the figures represent different stages of design and different points within their respective estimating ranges.

Further value engineering and cost refinement will continue as design advances.

Why is there such a large range?

Early and intermediate engineering estimates include allowances for uncertainty.

As the design becomes more complete, engineers have more detailed information about:

construction quantities;
equipment requirements;
site conditions;
construction methods;
project risks; and
market conditions.

This allows the estimate to become progressively more precise.

The figures on this page are planning estimates, not a final project price.

How will the project be funded?

On October 13, 2026, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan joined the City of Yorkton to announce a $50 million investment in Phase 1 of the Water Pollution Control Plant Renewal Project through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF).

The investment includes:

$20 million from the Government of Canada
$16.67 million from the Government of Saskatchewan
$13.33 million from the City of Yorkton

This funding will allow the City to move forward with Phase 1, including construction of a new headworks facility at the H.M. Bailey Water Pollution Control Plant.

The announcement represents a significant milestone for the project. However, the funding supports Phase 1 rather than the entire renewal. Additional funding and approvals will be required for future phases.

Read the October 13, 2026 funding announcement.

Why does wastewater capacity matter for Yorkton’s growth?

Water and wastewater capacity are essential when planning new development.

New residential subdivisions, businesses, industries and major institutional facilities all require sufficient municipal servicing before development can proceed.

The WPCP renewal is therefore an important part of Yorkton’s long-term planning for:

new housing;
commercial development;
industrial investment;
community and institutional facilities; and
future population growth.

Renewing the facility will provide greater certainty that Yorkton has the wastewater infrastructure required to accommodate future development responsibly.

How is this connected to a future regional hospital?

The Water Pollution Control Plant renewal and a future regional hospital are separate projects, but they are connected through municipal infrastructure.

A new hospital, or a significant expansion of the existing Yorkton Regional Health Centre, would create additional demand on Yorkton’s water and wastewater systems. Adequate servicing capacity will be required before a major new health-care facility can be connected.

The Province has begun planning work for a future regional hospital, including funding for business case and pre-design work. The City welcomes that progress and continues to support development of a new regional hospital for the region.

Renewing Yorkton’s wastewater infrastructure helps ensure the City is prepared to support major community projects such as a future hospital, along with housing and economic growth.

Yorkton Regional Health Centre as it is today.

Public and stakeholder engagement

The City has engaged residents, industry, regulators and other governments throughout planning for the project.

Engagement to date has included:

public open houses in January and September 2025;
engagement with the Water Security Agency and provincial ministries;
engagement with local First Nations;
discussions with local industry;
facility tours and meetings with provincial and federal representatives;
meetings with the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce; and
advocacy with provincial and federal governments regarding infrastructure funding.

The City has also applied for infrastructure funding through previous provincial and federal programs.

Information and opportunities for public engagement will continue to be shared as the project progresses.

Mayor Aaron Kienle at the delegation to Ottawa in October, 2025.

Project timeline

2017
The City launches its Pollution Prevention Program and begins the WPCP Renewal Project.

2021
The Downstream Use and Impact Study is completed and the FCM business case is approved.

2024–2025
Additional technical studies, modelling and project planning continue.

2025
Public open houses are held as part of project planning and engagement.

2026
The project reaches 30% design. Value engineering identifies approximately $30 million in savings from the median project estimate at that stage.

2026
Design advances to approximately 60%, providing additional detail about project quantities, requirements, risks and costs.

Late 2026 / early 2027
The City is working toward approximately 90% design.

Future
Procurement and construction will depend on project funding, completion of engineering and required approvals.

Project details, cost estimates and timelines are preliminary and subject to change as engineering and funding discussions continue.