City’s waterworks manager shares surprising stats on Steinbach’s water

Just five wells are responsible for getting drinking water throughout all of Steinbach. 

There are three wells in K.R. Barkman Park and two wells at the corner of Keating and Park Road West. 

Mike Heppner, Waterworks Manager for the City of Steinbach, says each of those groups provide water to two separate distribution pump stations or water treatment plants in that process.

“And from those distribution pumping stations, all the water is pushed into the mains and some residual goes up the water tower to provide elevated storage for the distribution system.” 

He says both of the treatment plant systems close to the water tower are designed to be capable of producing 2,000,000 gallons per day.  

“And right now, with the three wells in K.R. Barkman Park, we have no problem producing it from those wells.” 

Heppner explains the well fields have different abilities and production capacities, and that the two wells at the treatment plant at the Keating and Park Road intersection are in a development stage. 

"So we can only draw from the aquifer at set rates, and we can increase those rates over periods of time as the wells develop.” 

Heppner explains that limestone aquifer is a rock formation below ground with numerous cracks and fissures in it, and the water travels through those cracks. 

“By drilling the wells into that aquifer, with pumping, the water naturally comes to those well points and we draw from that source.” 

He says how good wells produce are often dependent on the amount and size of the cracks and fissures in the area. 

“For example, the wells in K.R. Barkman Park are stronger producers than the ones at Keating and Park Road.” 

Steinbach's annual report on drinking water quality for 2022 was released.

Heppner says in 2022, there were no drinking water safety orders and no boil water advisories.  

“We do everything that we can to prevent those from happening by properly maintaining the treatment system, the distribution system, and ensuring that the water quality at all endpoints, and internally within the center core area, meet the guidelines of our operating license,” he says. “And those are closely monitored by both our operators and the drinking water office checks our results to make sure that we're within those limits.” 

He hopes to maintain a long streak of no drinking water safety orders or boil water advisories.

“I'd like to be able to say ‘never on my watch,' but you never know what's going to hit you, but you stay prepped and ready to respond as required.” 

Heppner ensures residents that they take all the steps they possibly can to try and ensure they provide good water quality. 

“We do our utmost best to provide good quality water to the city residents and businesses, and we’ll continue to do that going forward.”  

He adds they recently had put out requests for volunteers for water sampling, and he is thankful they received enough volunteer applications.

“I want to say thank you to all the residents that volunteered. We had more than what we were required for in regards to our 40 sites for sampling, and that program is planning on starting in May.” 

Heppner addresses there have been questions about redoing the lettering on the water tower. 

“Right now we're dealing with some safety upgrade requirements prior to work being able to be done on that, so there is a delay with the lettering, we're not sure whether we're going to be able to get that up there this year yet, but we're continuing to work on that.” 

He says that if you have any questions, you can contact Steinbach Waterworks at 204 346 6214 or mheppner@steinbach.ca.