en.Wedoany.com Reported - The City of Winnipeg's Public Service recommends awarding a contract valued at approximately $815.48 million to Red River Biosolids Partners for the construction of a new biosolids facility at the North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC).
The facility will receive sludge from Winnipeg's three wastewater treatment plants and process it into reusable biosolids.
The NEWPCC requires upgrades to replace aging infrastructure, increase capacity to support Winnipeg's urban growth, and meet requirements under the City of Winnipeg Environmental Act License and the Water Protection Act.
The project will use a Progressive Design-Build (PDB) delivery model to support smart design and engineering choices and cost efficiency, ensuring delivery within the approved budget and timeline. The NEWPCC upgrade includes three separate capital projects that together represent one of the largest infrastructure projects in Winnipeg's history.
The NEWPCC ranks fifth in Water Canada's 2026 Top 50 Water Projects report.
In July 2024, the Standing Policy Committee on Water, Waste and Environment approved Red River Biosolids Partners as the development partner for the project. The Public Service collaborated with the consortium on design, costs, and construction schedules, and reviewed multiple options based on cost, available technology, treatment needs, construction risks, and long-term value.
Red River Biosolids Partners is a consortium of five companies, including Aecon Water Infrastructure Inc. (lead), Oscar Renda Contracting of Canada Inc., MWH Constructors Canada Ltd., Stantec, and Hatch.
The biosolids facility project will also be the first city project in Winnipeg to incorporate the City Council's 2022 Social Procurement Directive, aimed at increasing representation of Indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups in construction roles. The design-build agreement sets minimum thresholds and outreach targets for the proportions of skilled, semi-skilled, general laborers, and apprentices.
Project advancement to the construction phase is pending City Council approval of the contract award. The facility is expected to begin biosolids processing in October 2030, with substantial completion planned for March 2031.
