The Dugald Oakbank Water Treatment System (DOWS) is a proposed water treatment facility aimed at supporting new developments in the Dugald and Oakbank areas. The project comes at a steep price for residents:

The RM is Borrowing $50 Million in Total

Here is the breakdown (Source – RM of Springfield Financial Plan 2023):

• $12,563,000 for the Dugald Oakbank Water Treatment System (DOWS)
• $22,000,000 for Lagoon Expansion
• $9,010,000 for Springfield Recreation Centre (Phase 1)
• $9,900,948 for Springfield Recreation Centre (Phase 2)

Why DOWS May Not Be the Best Option for Springfield

• Local Improvement District: DOWS should be taxed as a Local Improvement District, meaning only those who benefit should pay—as is common in other RMs.
• Developer Contributions: Developers should contribute more to the costs upfront, reducing the burden on taxpayers.
• No Benefit to current taxpayers : DOWS primarily supports new developments, so existing residents see no direct benefits. Homes on municipal water will pay higher consumer charges and a special levy, homes on private wells still retain all costs for their systems.
• Existing Capacity: The RM’s November 1, 2023, Water and Waste Management report confirms that current water capacity is sufficient for upcoming projects like Dugald Place Assisted Living, Dugald Pool, Vision 2020 Personal Care Home, and Springfield Rec Centre, as well as 470 residential lots currently approved for development
• High Costs and Waste: DOWS uses Reverse Osmosis (RO), an expensive and wasteful method. RO could potentially waste the equivalent of 75 Olympic swimming pools of water each year.
• Impact on Environment: RO is not an eco-friendly option, especially with Springfield’s other healthier and more affordable water sources available. RO produces brine that can harm the environment if not properly managed. RO waste water will be discharged into Cooks Creek Drainage Ditch which empties into the floodway.  Homes close to the floodway may have their well water negatively effected from this discharged water.  Large-scale RO can over-extract water from natural sources, depleting resources and harming ecosystems.
• Energy Intensive: RO requires significant energy, increasing its carbon footprint, especially if powered by non-renewable sources.
• Health Concerns: The water from the three proposed wells fails to meet drinking water guidelines for fluoride, sodium, and total dissolved solids—areas further east do meet these guidelines.
• Better Alternatives: Springfield has access to other pristine water sources that are significantly less expensive and require minimal treatment.

6 Examples of Eco-Friendly, Cost-Effective Alternatives for Springfield

1. Move & Redrill Wells: Move and redrill the existing Heatherdale wells slightly south or east, staying within the Moosenose aquifer. This site was originally chosen as the best location to supply fresh water to Oakbank and Dugald for current and future needs.

The Moosenose is a large aquifer with its southern boundary intersecting the town of Oakbank and extending north into the Birds Hill Provincial Park. The eastern boundary crosses provincial highway 206 and the western boundary ends at the Red River Floodway.

2. Reservoir/Holding Tank: Install a holding tank at the existing Heatherdale wells to allow fines to settle, reducing the need for intensive treatment.
3. Expropriate Polluting Quarries: Expropriate surrounding quarry operators who are contaminating the municipal water supply—these quarries are nearly depleted and soon won’t be cost-effective to mine.
4. Water Sharing with RM of Tache: Reach an agreement with the RM of Tache to pipe treated water from Lorette to the Dugald treatment center. Approximately 5.7 M.
5. Draw from Shoal Lake Aqueduct: Consider drawing untreated water from the Shoal Lake Aqueduct or directly from the Greater Winnipeg Water Treatment Plant and pipe it to the Dugald treatment and distribution center.
6. Independent Study: Commission an independent engineering study to identify a sustainable, pristine water supply within Springfield with the goal of reducing capital costs by 50%, ensuring it meets future needs with minimal treatment. Estimate of 8.4 M.

Did You Know?

• The RM approved a major draw of pristine aquifer water for Sky Blue Water Inc., a water bottling company close to PR #302 and #15. The well draw could support 5,000-6,200 Springfield residents—currently, there are only 1,334 Springfield residents on piped water! The RM of Springfield is fortunate to have many options for a new pristine fresh water!
• There are already more than 1,220 unoccupied new lots and houses for sale in the RM.

Anola with 86 new lots assigned,  Dugald’s Wheatland and Skylark with 179 assigned unbuilt lots and 284 pending applications, Oakbank’s Terracon, Sienna Ridge, Hendren, R&B, and Qualico have assigned 211 unbuilt lots, West Pine Ridge with 460 new five acre lots.

It’s Not Too Late

The RM of Springfield Council has the power to withdraw Borrowing Bylaw 24-01.

Next Steps

The Environmental Approvals Branch must grant a license for DOWS, and the RM is waiting for this decision.

Let’s Contact the RM of Springfield Council and Ask Them to Do Their Homework

Urge them to commission an independent study to find a sustainable, pristine water supply within Springfield with the goal of reducing the capital costs by 50%.

• Mayor – Patrick Therrien
  Email: ptherrien@rmofspringfield.ca
  Phone: 204-902-0728
• Councillor, Ward 1 – Glen Fuhl
  Email: gfuhl@rmofspringfield.ca
  Phone: 204-232-4631
• Councillor, Ward 2 – Andy Kuczynski
  Email: akuczynski@rmofspringfield.ca
  Phone: 204-403-8971
• Councillor, Ward 3 – Mark Miller
  Email: mmiller@rmofspringfield.ca
  Phone: 204-403-82
• Councillor, Ward 4 – Melinda Warren
  Email: mwarren@rmofspringfield.ca
  Phone: 204-403-8201

What Residents are Saying

STRC recently completed an extensive canvas throughout the entire RM, meeting with over 1,200 residents. Over 90% of residents consulted said no to this excessive costly growth plan and don’t want to pay from their own pocket for services that don’t benefit them. Springfield residents want to keep their rural community identity and not move towards being a suburb of Winnipeg.

Who is Springfield Taxpayer Rights Corp (STRC)? A large group of over 1,000 concerned residents consisting of many professionals including but not limited to, engineers, a retired Chief Administrative Officer, Professors of University of Manitoba & Winnipeg, former Councillors, politicians, doctors, teachers, business owners, farmers, and a whole host of lay peoples.