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Cranbrook, BC (June 2, 2026) – After several years of project planning and engineering design work, construction on the long-awaited Phillips Reservoir UV Disinfection Facility Project for the City of Cranbrook is officially underway following a groundbreaking event on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. A number of local government dignitaries, City staff, project partners and consultants and the project contractor team were all on hand to mark the occasion.

The Phillips Reservoir UV Disinfection Facility will modernize how the City treats drinking water by adding ultraviolet (UV) disinfection to the treatment process, alongside a new sodium hypochlorite system. Together, these upgrades create a dual-barrier treatment system that improves water quality, enhances safety for both the public and operators, and ensures the City continues to meet provincial drinking water standards.

This project is an important investment in the long-term reliability of Cranbrook’s water system. The new facility is being designed to meet the needs of today while supporting growth well into the future, with infrastructure able to accommodate projected growth over the next 75 years. It will also help the City maintain its current treatment approach and defer the need for a much more expensive filtration treatment plant, which could cost in the range of $100+ million to build and would add significant ongoing operating costs.

In March 2024, the City of Cranbrook was awarded $9.5 million in funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Environmental Quality Stream with $5.20 million from the Government of Canada and $4.33 million from both the Government of Canada and the Province of BC. The City is contributing a total of $3.46 million to the $12.99-million project.

The City of Cranbrook gratefully acknowledges the financial commitment of both the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia toward this important project.

“Investments in modern water infrastructure are essential to building healthy and sustainable communities,” says the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Member of Parliament for Kelowna and Secretary of State for Defence Procurement. “We are proud to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Phillips Reservoir UV Disinfection Facility to ensure that Cranbrook residents have reliable access to clean drinking water for years to come.”

"People in Cranbrook will benefit from safer, more dependable drinking water that protects their health for now and for generations to come,” says Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “This initiative strengthens community well-being while supporting population growth and reducing long-term costs for residents. It reflects a shared commitment to resilient public services that improve quality of life and safeguard essential resources.”

“This is an important and exciting day where we officially kick off a project that will further protect the City’s water quality and provide safe and clean drinking water for decades to come,” says Mayor Wayne Price. “We are thankful and so grateful to the Government of Canada and the Province of BC for this important grant funding through ICIP grant program. Without their partnership and support, this project would have been difficult for us to accomplish.”

The new Phillips Reservoir UV Disinfection Facility is anticipated to be completed and operational by the fall of 2027.