Project Overview
The City of Yellowknife is moving ahead with the Raw Water Supply Upgrade Project to ensure safe, reliable drinking water for decades to come. The project will modernize and expand the City’s raw water system and support a safe, reliable, and resilient drinking water supply.
Get Involved - Open House
Join a Public Open House to ask questions, fill out a comment form, and share knowledge related to Yellowknife Bay and the Yellowknife River.
Open House Date: April 16, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Location: Explorer Hotel, Katimavik A Room
About the Raw Water Supply Upgrade Project
The City is growing, and so are its water demands.
The Project includes improvements to the City’s existing pumphouses, new water intake pipes at Pumphouse No. 1, and updates to key components of the City’s water system. After reviewing water use and our municipal growth, we also established that more water is needed each year; to meet this need, the City is also requesting to increase the annual allocation of water from 4,000,000 cubic metres to 8,000,000 cubic metres of raw water. This helps to ensure the City can meet current demand while planning for future growth.
To complete the project, the City must submit regulatory permits, including a Type A Water Licence Amendment and Type A Land Use Permit to the Mackenzie Land and Water Board (MVLWB).
How We Are Engaging You
This engagement aligns with the IAP2 “Consult” level:
- We’re asking for your input on concerns and to hear your questions
- Your feedback will help inform project considerations, such as safety and community concerns
- Final designs will also consider accessibility, budget, and site limitations
Engagement findings will be reflected in a “What We Heard” report, which City staff will consider as project design progresses.
You may email waterlicence@yellowknife.ca for comments, questions and concerns at any time during the project.