Name: Delivering Resilient Water and Wastewater Infrastructure for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation in Cold Climate Mountain Regions: Engineering Through Winter Construction Constraints
Start: 2026-09-17T14:00:00-0600
End: 2026-09-17T14:30:00-0600

Delivering Resilient Water and Wastewater Infrastructure for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation in Cold Climate Mountain Regions: Engineering Through Winter Construction Constraints

Thursday September 17, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm MDT

Campania A/B

The Stoney Nakoda Nations is undergoing population and development growth associated with expanded resort operations, increased staff-accommodation demand, and new residential areas. This growth has created additional loading on the existing water and wastewater treatment systems, necessitating upgrades to increase treatment capacity and improve system resilience. This abstract summarizes the engineering assessment, design approach, Indigenous partnership, and construction methods used to advance the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), with particular emphasis on cold-weather construction challenges, mitigation strategies, and adaptive planning required to meet revised design horizons under extreme winter conditions.
A detailed evaluation by MPE, a division of Englobe, confirmed that both facilities were operating at or near their original design capacities. This finding initiated a multidisciplinary upgrade program. Initial tender pricing exceeded the pre-tender estimate by approximately 70%; however, a structured value-engineering process, combined with design optimization and early contractor involvement by Everest Construction Ltd., enabled the project team to align scope and budget without reducing required performance criteria.
Construction commenced in late fall 2025 and was executed under challenging winter conditions that required specialized mitigation measures. Glycol heating lines and insulated tarps were installed and continuously maintained to thaw frozen ground and enable earthworks and concrete placement. Despite these controls, moisture intrusion beneath tarps and thaw systems occurred, resulting in excessive moisture content within fill materials and subsequent failure to meet compaction requirements in affected areas. Unsuitable material was therefore removed and replaced to achieve design specifications. Additional challenges included temporary delays caused by a thaw unit tripping offline and intermittent suspension of construction activities during periods of extreme weather. High wind events posed safety risks and resulted in a tree falling within the active construction zone, requiring immediate site control measures. Collectively, these conditions highlighted the importance of robust cold-weather construction planning, real-time field adaptability, and proactive risk management to maintain quality, safety, and project continuity. The project demonstrates how treatment-facility upgrades can be implemented under winter constraints while maintaining quality control and operational continuity.
Operational continuity was a key driver throughout design and construction, as both facilities were required to remain online during the majority of the upgrade works. Temporary bypass systems, phased commissioning, and enhanced monitoring were incorporated to minimize service disruptions and protect treated water and effluent quality during construction activities. These measures reduced risk to the community while allowing upgrades to be implemented efficiently.
Beyond its technical achievements, the project provides meaningful socioeconomic benefits to the Stoney Nakoda Nations. Construction activities prioritized employment of local Nation members and engagement of Indigenous businesses, contributing to skills development, economic participation, and community self-reliance. The upgraded infrastructure directly supports future residential and economic development while safeguarding public health and environmental stewardship in a challenging mountainous setting. Collectively, the project illustrates how value engineering, winter-condition construction, and Indigenous partnership can converge to deliver resilient and sustainable water infrastructure.

Speakers

Dr. Debjani Mukherjee

Project Engineer, MPE a Division of Englobe

Dr. Debjani Mukherjee, P.Eng., is a Process Engineer at MPE, a division of Englobe, who specializes in the design, construction, and commissioning of critical water infrastructure. With a PhD from the University of Windsor, her expertise spans the end-to-end lifecycle of critical... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm MDT
Campania A/B 2nf Floor, Delta Hotel

Drinking Water Treatment, Winter Construction

global Y

WCW26

Dr. Debjani Mukherjee

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WCW26

Dr. Debjani Mukherjee

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