Potash mine hoping to buy Regina wastewater

The City of Regina is being asked to sell its treated sewage to a potash mining company.

Western Potash Corp. wants to develop a $2.4-billion solution mine near the hamlet of Gray, about 35 kilometres south of the city.

Typically, such a mine would use water to dissolve the mineral and bring it to the surface.

Instead, according to documents filed with the city, Western Potash wants to spend about $200 million building a system to carry treated wastewater from Regina to the mine.

Currently, the effluent from the sewage treatment goes into Wascana Creek west of the city.

The mine, which hopes to begin production in September, 2015, would need about 200,000 litres a day for at least 40 years.

The city's executive council is recommending that the city enter into negotiations with Western Potash.

It's not known how much the city could earn from such a deal, but an administration report to council says it could be an important new revenue that would lessen the need for tax increases or utility increases.

Council is expected to discuss the plan at its next meeting.