Refinery recognized for addressing water needs

The Co-op Refinery Complex’s (CRC) Wastewater Improvement Project (WIP) was singled out as an industry-leading environmental initiative at the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (SAW) 2019 Annual Conference.

The innovative project received the 2019 Watershed Stewardship Award, an honour that recognizes an individual, group or organization that has contributed significantly to the protection or enhancement of source waters or a watershed within Saskatchewan.

“We believe that lasting success comes from making smart choices about our stewardship of the environment and how we manage our resources. Our Wastewater Improvement Project builds on that commitment,” said Gil Le Dressay, Vice-President of Refinery Operations at Federated Co-operatives Limited.

“It is an honour to be recognized by our peers for CRC’s focus on responsible and sustainable business practices. Fuelled by our people, we are proud to contribute to an initiative that will benefit the environment and the local community for generations to come.”

• WATCH: How the Wastewater Improvement Project works

The CRC strives to be a leader in environmental compliance and recognizes the important role that associations, like SAW, play in ensuring a sustainable future for Regina and the Province of Saskatchewan.

The WIP builds on that commitment by giving the CRC the capability of reusing its wastewater for the purpose of steam production – the only refinery in North America with that capability. The WIP reduces the CRC’s freshwater consumption by 28 per cent, which is the equivalent of 3,100 households in Regina on an annual basis.

The $200 million environmental mega-project is an industry-leading initiative that has won numerous national and international awards and exemplifies the CRC’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.