Valley View Acres: Meeting High Standards Through Community

As a volunteer certified operator for Valley View Acres Utilities LTD, a small community of 15 houses south of Calgary, Mike Mau knows firsthand the immense responsibility of providing safe, reliable drinking water.

"We're a community of volunteers. We have three wells that we use to pump water to all our homes, and everyone pitches in," Mike explains. "We have members who are certified operators and others who help with daily tasks under supervision. But because we're providing drinking water, we fall under the same strict Alberta Government standards as the big cities. Our challenge is to provide that high quality of water and satisfy all the government criteria, but as a small, self-run group."

For years, one of the biggest obstacles for the co-op was the high cost and difficulty of maintaining certifications. Operators needed ongoing training, but finding the right courses was a constant struggle.

"Our main challenge for operators is finding courses that are focused on small water systems, not massive water plants," Mike says. "We try to choose courses that focus on the needs of our community."

The support from the Water Federation proved to be the key solution, providing the small community with the tools to operate at a professional level. The Federation offers essential training, group insurance and vital funding for courses, which is critical for the community's budget.

For Mike and Valley View Acres, the impact has been transformative. "The Water Federation has been essential for us. The fact that they have been able to provide funding for our courses is extremely valuable. It means we can keep our skills sharp and our water safe, all while providing it to our homes at a reasonable cost."