Canmore Approves $5 Million Wastewater Odor Fix After Years of Complaints

Canmore council voted unanimously Tuesday to spend an additional $5 million to finally tackle the persistent odor from the town’s wastewater treatment plant, an issue that has lingered for years and drawn steady complaints from South Canmore residents.

The approval, which raises the total project budget to $7.32 million, came during the final council meeting of the term. Councillors framed the move as a long-awaited but necessary investment to restore livability for residents affected by the plant’s summer smell.

“I’d happily pay $2.50 a month not to smell that smell,” Mayor Sean Kraus said after learning that the cost to ratepayers will rise by about that amount when new utility rates take effect next year.

A Fast-Tracked Decision

The decision was made outside the normal budget process because of timing. The new sludge tank, a sealed and ventilated system designed to contain and filter odors, has a 30-week manufacturing lead time.

If the order were delayed until the regular 2026 budget cycle, the unit would not be ready until the end of next year’s “odor season.” By voting now, the town can begin procurement immediately, with the system expected to be operational by early summer 2026.

“Given the lead times, if we waited for the normal budget process, it would be complete just in time for the end of the odor season next year,” Kraus said. “This gives us the opportunity to have this rectified for next summer.”

The additional funds will come from the town’s wastewater utility reserve, rather than through new borrowing. Administration told council the project can be completed without jeopardizing other essential capital work.

Why a New Tank Is Needed

The odor-control upgrade is the third phase in a multi-year effort to modernize the treatment plant’s sludge management system. Previous phases installed similar technology on other parts of the facility, with notable results.

The new tank, explained project engineer Shannon Wood, will store and process waste under a sealed lid connected to a specialized odor control unit, a filtration system that scrubs the air before it is vented.

Wood said the technology is already in use at comparable facilities across Canada and has proven highly effective. “If you were to stick your face on the output of that odor control unit, you don’t smell anything,” she said.

By contrast, Canmore’s existing open-air sludge tanks were built decades ago and were never designed to support a roof or cover system. Retrofitting them would require extensive structural work and still leave the town with aging assets.

“The modifications needed just to add a roof would cost about the same as building a new tank,” Wood told council. “We’d still have a very old structure with significant risk and uncertainty.”

The existing tanks will remain as backups during maintenance or cleaning periods, but the new system will become the primary unit.

What It Means for Residents

The new tank and filtration system come with a price tag residents will notice, though only modestly.

According to the town’s preliminary projections, the project will raise wastewater utility rates by roughly $2.50 per month for the average household. That adjustment increases the previously planned 14 percent annual rate hike to 16 percent in both 2026 and 2027.

“I’m supportive of using the reserve for this project because I also see ways to put the money back,” said Coun. Tanya Forbear.

Administration said the increase will allow the utility reserve, essentially the town’s savings account for water and wastewater projects, to recover after the withdrawal.

In the Chamber

Councillors voiced broad relief that a fix is finally within reach.

“People have lived with this issue for a long time,” said Coun. Jeff Mah. “It’s been really tough for residents in South Canmore, and I empathize with that. I’m just glad to see we’re moving forward.”

Council members also confirmed the new tank will remain compatible with future wastewater plant upgrades, ensuring the investment is not short-lived.

A Longstanding Nuisance Nearing Its End

Canmore’s wastewater plant odor has been one of the town’s most persistent quality-of-life issues. The smell, strongest during warm weather and certain wind patterns, has prompted dozens of complaints in recent years.

Council first initiated odor studies in 2022, followed by early design and pilot work in 2023. Construction on earlier phases began in 2024, reducing smells in some areas but leaving the largest source, the sludge holding tanks, untreated.

Tuesday’s vote effectively closes that gap.

“This gives me a lot of hope that we’ll once and for all put this issue to bed,” Kraus said, thanking staff for moving the project forward faster than expected.

What Happens Next

With council’s approval in hand, administration plans to order the new tank immediately. Manufacturing and shipping will take about seven months, followed by several weeks of installation and testing.

If all goes according to schedule, the new system will be online by May 2026, just in time for what residents hope will be Canmore’s first odor-free summer in years.