BQE Water Secures 2026 Contract for Yukon Water Treatment Operations

Event summary

  • BQE Water has been contracted by ERDC to operate water treatment systems in the Yukon for 2026, including the Valley Tailings Facility (VTF) which BQE designed and commissioned in 2025.
  • The contract involves passive and active water treatment systems at legacy sites Silver King, Galkeno, and Onek in the Keno Hill district.
  • BQE Water will collaborate with Big River Operations (BRO), a Na-Cho Nyäk Dun citizen-owned company, for operations services until October 2026, with duration dependent on climate conditions and tailings consolidation progress.

The big picture

This contract underscores BQE Water's growing role in sustainable water management for the mining sector, particularly in environmentally sensitive regions like the Yukon. The collaboration with indigenous-owned Big River Operations highlights a strategic trend toward integrating local resources and expertise into mining operations. The deal also reflects the increasing importance of environmental compliance and remediation in legacy mining sites.

What we're watching

Execution Risk
How climate conditions and tailings consolidation progress will affect the duration and requirements of the water treatment season.
Strategic Expansion
Whether BQE Water can leverage this contract to expand its presence in the Keno Hill district and secure long-term talent development opportunities.
Indigenous Partnerships
The pace at which BQE Water and BRO can build technical capacity and operational experience within the Yukon mining and water treatment sector.

Related topics

Mining