The Town of Watrous needed to upgrade its wastewater lagoon system to support a growing population of 2,500 and handle extra wastewater from a new water treatment plant. The existing lagoon had four cells in a valley about 3 km from the Town. Catterall & Wright designed two new aerated primary treatment cells and one aerated holding cell to work alongside the current system. The aeration design was completed in collaboration with Nexom Inc.

The new cells were made deeper to save space and allow for future expansion despite limited land availability. A blower building was constructed to house the aeration equipment, including blowers and compressors, which operate in a manual duty/standby setup. Construction included a clay liner within the new cells, rerouting sewer lines, extending access roads, and thorough quality control testing of embankments, liners, and the blower building foundation to meet project standards.

The project faced challenges like fluctuating groundwater, which was managed by raising cell floors and berms and doing excavation during winter to reduce water issues. Erosion control was added to existing cells, and concrete mats were placed on new cells to prevent wind and wave damage. To maintain access to a local shooting range affected by construction, a temporary road was built. Early water use studies led to raising water rates, reducing demand, and allowing a smaller, more cost-effective lagoon upgrade. Overall, the project balanced site limits and community needs while improving wastewater treatment capacity.