It's going to cost a lot but it's necessary to make sure Moose Jaw has clean water for decades to comes.  City Council has learned that a new water line from Buffalo Pound is going to ring in at nearly $20 million.

City Engineer Josh Mickleborough presented his report to Moose Jaw City Council Tuesday night after they opened the bids for the project he says has been put off for too long. The pipe was originally laid from Moose Jaw to the water treatment plant back in 1954 and has not really been touched since, resulting in a number of cracks and breaks.

"It's been outstanding for almost ten years and it's been on the book (budget) for seven." said Mickleborough as he explained why the project needed to go ahead without delay. "What is involved is the construction of a new 750mm PVC pipe to replace the steel line to help ensure a reliable water supply."

The city received bids all the way up to nearly $27 million for the project but Hamm Construction was the lowest at $19.9 million and was awarded the contract this week.  It's believed they should have the new pipe installed by this time next year.

Phase two of the project will focus on new pumps at the plant that will push the water to Moose Jaw and is expected to cost upwards of $4.5 million.  Mickleborough says that phase will have to wait until the Water Treatment Plant gets their ducks in a row for an upgrade of their own in the near future so they can design their new pumps to work in sync with the plant.