There is new leadership at the helm of the Pembina Valley Water Co-op (PVWC) Board of Directors.

Don Wiebe, reeve for the Municipality of Rhineland, and R.M. of Dufferin Reeve George Gray are eager to start their new roles as co-chairs for the organization which is owned by 14 member municipalities in southern Manitoba.

"When you look at the Pembina Valley Water Co-op, it's a unique organization, to bring fourteen municipalities together to produce a consistent, high-quality water supply is phenomenal," said Wiebe.

Coming on board, Wiebe says he's excited to follow through on the many projects that are already in the works.

This includes a new pipeline from Morris to St. Jean, improvements to the Morris water treatment plant including upgraded water filtration from 67 litres/second to 100 litres/second, and plans to build a booster station to help increase water supply to the Winkler/Morden corridor.

Future plans would see a new treated water reservoir at the Letellier water treatment plant, upgraded treatment capacity at the Stephenfield plant and additional piping capacity between Roland and the Winkler/Morden corridor.

"Those are very much needed in terms of the availability of supply and consistency of pressure," noted Wiebe.

Also in his new role as co-chair of the PVWC, Wiebe says he looks forward to reminding people how critical water supply is to the area, adding it is imperative to design a system that can handle all of the growth aspirations in the region.

Reiterating Wiebe's comments, Gray added it's a real privilege to be involved with the PVWC and he looks forward to these projects coming to fruition and continuing to offer residents a level of service they are accustomed to.

"The high quality of water and service that the Pembina Valley Water Co-op has given this region of fifty-thousand people is absolutely incredible. We keep raising the bar every year," he said.

Looking to the future, the co-chairs agree drought proofing and planning will continue to be a priority for the organization.

Gray, who hails from the western side of the water co-op which is serviced by the Stephenfield water treatment plant, says the region dodged a bullet last summer when persistent hot, dry conditions drastically drew down the level of Stephenfield Lake which supplies the local plant. However, thanks to a timely rain in August, the body of water remained in positive territory.

"We were hoping to get the Stephenfield Reservoir full this year, but it's an ongoing issue with the insatiable appetite for water by agriculture and for potable water. We have to be very aware of our supply," he said.

Gray added a joint study with the PVWC and the R.M.s of Dufferin, Roland, Thompson, and Grey is underway to find that guaranteed water supply in the Treherne area.

Echoing that concern, Wiebe says officials are also keeping an eye on the levels of the Red River which supplies the Letellier and Morris treatment plants on the east side of the organization's boundary.

"The level of the Red (River) over the years has been pretty low and so we need drought protection. But the other thing is how do we procure a long term supply to minimize the risk?", he wondered. "Also finding ways, if there's a long period of drought, to maximize our resources and are there alternatives to the Red like building bigger reservoirs?."

The Pembina Valley Water Co-op is the third-largest utility in Manitoba and has the largest distribution system stretching over 9,000 square kilometres.