City of Airdrie Utility Master Planning: Integrating Overarching Inter-municipal Government Policies, Network Modelling and Asset Management to Ensure Sustainable and Sound Infrastructure for Short- and Long-Term Planning Needs

ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. (ISL) was tasked with developing a Utility Master Plan (UMP) for one of the fastest growing municipalities in Canada, the City of Airdrie (the City). ISL worked to develop a comprehensive roadmap to strategic and integrated planning of the wastewater and water systems, while addressing the immediate infrastructure planning needs to meet the high-demand for developable lands.The UMP provided the City with direction on various infrastructure implementation alternatives to service the enhanced population, while ensuring the existing infrastructure remains fully functional in providing appropriate levels of service. It considered intergovernmental relationships and frameworks, employed innovative modelling techniques, and used extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure buy-in to the overall recommendations. The document provided direction to the City on the feasibility and life-cycle cost implications of various servicing design concepts, and guidance on the preferred alternatives for achieving Council’s objective of accommodating additional industrial and commercial development to achieve fiscal balance.