The Town of Coaldale has completed a $13-million potable water reservoir and pump station, a project the community’s mayor says sets the town up for continued growth in the coming years.
Coaldale, located about 20 kilometres east of Lethbridge, has grown over six per cent in the past five years, to about 9,600 in 2025, according to the province’s regional dashboard.
With the new underground reservoir, Coaldale’s potable water capacity has significantly increased, to 8,300 cubic metres — enough to fill more than three Olympic-sized swimming pools — from 3,400 cubic metres.
Infrastructure Master Plan
The project, identified in the town’s 2019 infrastructure master plan, means Coaldale is now better positioned to support commercial, residential and industrial growth in the next 25-plus years, said Mayor Jack Van Rijn on Thursday.
“It was clear (in 2019) and it’s even clearer today that, as Coaldale continues to grow, our infrastructure needs to keep pace,” said Van Rijn.
Regional Growth Support
The project also supports broader regional growth, said Van Rijn, mentioning McCain’s $600-million expansion just east of Coaldale. McCain Foods is building a $600-million expansion of its Coaldale processing facility.
“It’s a reminder that water infrastructure is not only about meeting today’s needs, but it’s also about preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities,” said Van Rijn.
The Town of Coaldale has to carefully choose which projects are allowed to proceed due to the limited supply of potable water provided by the City of Lethbridge, said the town’s mayor. That water comes into the reservoir through a pipeline and is distributed throughout the town and also to Lethbridge County users.
“This facility is not only important to Coaldale but also the broader regional water system that supports growth and sustainability across southern Alberta,” said Van Rijn.
Funding and Ceremony
The Town of Coaldale contributed roughly $8.3 million towards the project, while the Alberta government provided a $525,000 grant in 2023 for project engineering and a $4.5-million grant in 2024 towards the construction of the potable water reservoir. A ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the reservoir takes place Friday afternoon.
