The chief executive officer for the Pembina Valley Water Co-op is slowly settling into his new job.

Greg Archibald has been busy spending time at the water co-ops three main treatment facilities getting to know the employees working at those locations since taking over the job on November 1, 2016. He's also getting to know the various members of the Water Co-op board of directors who represent the 14 municipalities behind the regional utility.

Archibald admitted, it's been an eye opener for him.

"I have lived in southern Manitoba and didn't really realize the Co-op provides quality drinking water to the 14 municipal entities across this region through a distribution system of pips that connect the three plants to its customers. I didn't really appreciate the size and significance of this operation."

In referring to the utility as one of the best kept secrets in southern Manitoba, Archibald remarked how impressed he was with how 14 municipalities can work so well together.

"I was talking with some of the people at the CWWA (Canadian Water and Wastewater Association), which is the national body, who said there wasn't another model like this one anywhere else in Canada. I think its very unique how these municipal governments have come together to generate quality water for the area."

Archibald noted the Water Co-ops big focus over the next six months will be the completion of the $6-million dollar upgrade and expansion of the water plant at Stephenfield, which they hope to have up and running by summer.