Dawson Creek hires more specialist consultants for new water source project following consultation

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Dawson Creek has expanded the team working on its project to secure a different, stable water source for the community. 

According to a press release on March 20th, the city is moving forward with the Dawson Creek Water Supply System Project following a B.C. Environmental Assessment Office consultation. 

The city is looking to bring water from the Peace River to the city through a 52-kilometre transmission line, along with other infrastructure, so it is no longer reliant on the Kiskatinaw River. 

The city was in a ‘state of local emergency’ (SOLE) between October 2025 and February 2026 due to an ongoing drought in the Kiskatinaw River, its water source. 

The city ended SOLE on February 20th, when it said it believed its water supply would last through spring. 

The City of Dawson Creek had previously received both support and criticism from various government agencies for its $100 million water pipeline proposal. 

Through the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office’s Early Engagement Process, it asked Indigenous communities, residents, agencies and technical experts to review and provide input for the initial proposal. 

Devon Aaroe, general manager for major infrastructure and development for the City of Dawson Creek, told Energeticcity.ca in a written statement: “To address these comments and inquiries, the city needed to strengthen the team by adding more technical expertise.” 

He said the city has added a few more consultants who specialize in this area to “help build the foundation of the project.” 

In addition to this, he said: “We are having discussions with many levels of government and other interested parties on how we could fund this project as we move forward.” 

When asked how the city is implementing feedback from Indigenous communities, Aaroe said: “The city will continue to engage with and listen to Indigenous nations as we continue, we understand that we must proceed with this project through a collaborative and creative process which we are fully committed to as the project moves forward.”

At the moment, the project is in the early engagement phases with the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office while the city works on a ‘detailed project description.’ 

It said an update about the next steps in the project will be coming soon.