Water system cleaner but not perfect

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/03/2012 (5034 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An upgraded water purification plant has left a sour taste in the mouth of at least one area resident.

Provincial and federal officials gathered March 19 to celebrate the completion of upgrades to the Cartier Regional Co-op Water Plant. The $8-million project was funded by the three levels of government and has been operational since last September.

It services approximately 10,000 customers throughout the municipalities of Cartier, St. Francois Xavier, Headingley, Grey, Rockwood and Rosser.

One Headingley resident said there has been a noticeable difference in the taste of his tap water since the upgrades were completed.

“Maybe it is just the position we are on the line, but for some reason we seem to have excess chlorine in our water,” said Richard Capri. “You can smell it.”

Capri said that while it hasn’t been as much of a problem recently, the smell is still noticeable.

Plant manager Kale Black said water quality at the plant is higher than it ever has been before.

“Operation-wise everything is going well,” Black said. “It is much cleaner water.”

Black said water purity is measured in terms of particulate levels. Current readings are .02 NTUs, or nephelometric turbidity units, while readings prior to the upgrades were close to .08 NTUs, he said.

“The hardness is a big change as well,” he said. “The water is much softer as a result of the upgrades.”

Black added that the number of homes the plant can service as a result of the upgrades has increased.

Manitoba Minister of Local Government Ron Lemieux said the upgrades to the plant are part of the province’s commitment to providing safe drinking water to all Manitoba communities.

“Not only will these upgrades improve water treatment capabilities, but they will also ensure the delivery of safe drinking water to more homes in this area,” he said.

Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Hoeppner said the upgrades will help the water plant meets future demands and will ensure “area residents will have access to clean, safe drinking water for years to come.”

prescott.james@canstarnews.com