UPGRADING THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT IN CANDLE LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK

Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport has awarded a $342,342 contract to River North Construction Ltd. To upgrade the potable water system in the Sandy Bay campground at Candle Lake Provincial Park.

Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport operates 66 potable water systems at various locations throughout the park system. A percentage of the potable water systems in the parks are routinely upgraded annually.

"Our provincial parks are among the best in Canada," Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Dustin Duncan said. "We work hard to make sure they continue to be that way by upgrading the services available to our park visitors. That includes making sure that drinking water in our parks meets current drinking water standards."

The Water Regulations, 2002 requires that existing water systems have a water system assessment completed every five years to ensure they meet current Drinking Water Standards. The assessment at Sandy Bay Campground showed some routine work needed to be done including: replacing pumps; piping; installing new filters and adding more storage capacity.

Work on the water treatment plant will begin in mid-August and should be complete by October 31, 2010. Testing and system commissioning will take place in the spring of 2011, prior to the park opening.

The potable water upgrade is among the many investments government is making in our provincial parks. Since 2008, government has spent more than $16.2 million improving the facilities and infrastructure in our provincial parks. It includes adding electrical service to 1,000 campsites. This year campers will be able to use 600 of those sites. The ministry is also replacing or upgrading some service centres and boat launches and is replacing picnic tables and barbeques.

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For more information, contact:

Art Jones
Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3506
Email: art.jones@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-550-5927