The Okotoks water treatment plant will be getting a little bit of a face-lift in order to be better protected against flooding.

The EPCOR plant at the Sheep River will have current diversion switches that will channel water away from the plant in case a flood occurs again.

EPCOR Water Services Site Manager Darren Peel says the project will greatly benefit the plant.

"Really, what it's designed to do is to protect against erosion and undermining," he says. "Should the river channel switch so that with the piece around the plant, there is potential the main channel could switch and come right at at the plant."

Peel says the plant won't be going any changes inside, just the outside.

"Its all earthworks related protection of the water treatment plant building, by placing some rip-wrap of the north side of the building, wrapping around a little bit on the west side," he says.

Peel says the bridge that crosses the Sheep River will still be open during construction, but the construction will be fenced off to the public.

"Obviously we're a public area, frequented by pedestrian traffic," he says. "There will be fencing put up to help direct pedestrian traffic through the construction area safely."

Construction on the plant is set to begin this week.

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