The federal government announced a $20,138,995 investment on April 7, 2026, to build a new water treatment plant in Hay River, Northwest Territories. This funding, provided through the Build Communities Strong Fund, aims to provide long-term water security for the region and replace aging infrastructure that has struggled to meet community needs.
The town’s existing water treatment plant is more than 40 years old and was built to meet 1986 health standards. The facility has faced persistent operational challenges, including difficulty treating highly turbid water during spring break-up and effectively managing chemical by-products. These issues led to a drinking water advisory issued in November 2025, which remains in effect for Hay River, the Hamlet of Enterprise, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, and Ka’a’gee Tu First Nation.
The new plant will serve all four of these communities and is expected to support future growth. According to federal officials, the upgraded infrastructure will provide the capacity to support the development of up to 140 new homes, 30 secondary suites, and 30 senior units over the next five years. Plans for the new facility follow a 2020 recommendation from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, which previously identified significant structural deterioration in the current building, including corrosion and leaks.
Work on the project will begin with detailed design and engineering phases. Town officials anticipate that construction could start within a year, with full commissioning of the new system projected for 2029. This investment is part of the first group of 13 projects nationwide supported by the new federal infrastructure fund.
