Residents living in Wood Buffalo’s southern rural hamlets are getting closer to having piped water and sewer services in their own homes.

Wood Buffalo council met on Tuesday where they approved the Rural Water and Sewer Servicing Connection plan, while also tasking administration with creating a connection bylaw.

The plan will update residents in Anzac, Conklin, Draper, Gregoire Lake Estates, Janvier, and Saprae Creek Estates on the next steps to connecting to the new municipal infrastructure being developed in the communities.

Under the connection program, residents in Saprae Creek would have to pay $10,000 with the other homeowners in the other five communities required to pay $16,000.

Residents will be allowed to pay it through either one lump sum or with added payments on their utility fees over the next 25-years.

Construction on the $306 million project, the costliest initiative ever undertaken by the municipality, started in 2017.

Meanwhile, Saprae Creek and Janvier could see homes be connected as soon as next year, while Anzac, Conklin, and Gregoire Lake Estates are expected to see work start in 2021.

However, Draper could have to wait until 2023 as construction has been delayed since the municipality has been addressing slope stability issues in the area.