Canada - Drinking water deemed safe: town staff
North Star, News, Wednesday, April 11, 2007
by Stephannie Johnson | more by this writer
PARRY SOUND – Despite a report sighting three separate instances of insufficient disinfectants in the water filtration plant, town staff assure residents they have safe drinking water.
In accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, the report was conducted by Abacus Engineering and Planning Services Inc. covering the period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006 at the Tony Agnello Membrane Water Filtration Facility.
The report, which was distributed to town council last month, noted a total of five failures to meet requirements, which included “a fluoride spike”, “low chlorine residual distribution” and “low adequate disinfection”.
Brian Sheridan, town director of operations said a number of electronic monitoring systems are in place to alert staff when “we’re out of the appropriate range.”
The three incidents of low chlorine at the facility did not threaten residents because the facility automatically adds chlorine when the water comes in and as it leaves, Mr. Sheridan said.
“The fluoride spike tends to be a technicality because (the acceptable range) is broad for fluoride,” said Mr. Sheridan. “And fluoride is not required (by law) in the water. A shift in fluoride is not a threat to public safety.”
Low chlorine residual distribution means the chlorine levels drop too much as water travels further from the treatment plant and spends more time in area pipes. Mr. Sheridan said chlorine in water deteriorates over time and distance, depending on how long it sits in a tower or pipes or how far it has to travel.
“We check various spots and look for a drop below the amount in the distribution system,” said Mr. Sheridan.
If low levels are found, which was in the case once last year, the area is flushed out until proper levels are returned.
The report stated: “The first, fourth and fifth incidents relate to low adequate disinfection levels at the discharge of the chlorine tank. Upon recognition, disinfection was restored with the subsequent results showing safe water quality.”
The report also outlines the annual average daily flow of water through the facility, as well as monthly average daily flows and maximum daily flow.
The most water was used, 5,298 cubic metres, on July 8, 2006; the least amount of water was used in January 2006; the daily average was 2,730 cubic metres.
In 2006, the plant operated at 53 per cent capacity.
The report stated: “This indicates that there is considerable room for additional growth within the Parry Sound system prior to the need for system capacity expansion.”
“It makes me feel good to see the quality of staff and the precautions they take,” said councillor Millie Graham. “Town taxpayers should feel very, very safe when they take water out of their tap.’
Comments
Wednesday, Apr 11th, 2007 @ 6:24pm
fluoride not dangerous
from Mary Sparrowdancer
The person who said that "a shift in fluoride is not a threat to public safety," needs to be relieved of their duties. Not only is it a threat, but poorly controled fluoride levels have resulted in deaths and major illnesses. Fluoride is a HAZMAT that should not be added to our drinking water, and certainly not placed in our drinking water by untrained or ill-informed clowns who consider it to be harmless.
by Stephannie Johnson | more by this writer
PARRY SOUND – Despite a report sighting three separate instances of insufficient disinfectants in the water filtration plant, town staff assure residents they have safe drinking water.
In accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, the report was conducted by Abacus Engineering and Planning Services Inc. covering the period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006 at the Tony Agnello Membrane Water Filtration Facility.
The report, which was distributed to town council last month, noted a total of five failures to meet requirements, which included “a fluoride spike”, “low chlorine residual distribution” and “low adequate disinfection”.
Brian Sheridan, town director of operations said a number of electronic monitoring systems are in place to alert staff when “we’re out of the appropriate range.”
The three incidents of low chlorine at the facility did not threaten residents because the facility automatically adds chlorine when the water comes in and as it leaves, Mr. Sheridan said.
“The fluoride spike tends to be a technicality because (the acceptable range) is broad for fluoride,” said Mr. Sheridan. “And fluoride is not required (by law) in the water. A shift in fluoride is not a threat to public safety.”
Low chlorine residual distribution means the chlorine levels drop too much as water travels further from the treatment plant and spends more time in area pipes. Mr. Sheridan said chlorine in water deteriorates over time and distance, depending on how long it sits in a tower or pipes or how far it has to travel.
“We check various spots and look for a drop below the amount in the distribution system,” said Mr. Sheridan.
If low levels are found, which was in the case once last year, the area is flushed out until proper levels are returned.
The report stated: “The first, fourth and fifth incidents relate to low adequate disinfection levels at the discharge of the chlorine tank. Upon recognition, disinfection was restored with the subsequent results showing safe water quality.”
The report also outlines the annual average daily flow of water through the facility, as well as monthly average daily flows and maximum daily flow.
The most water was used, 5,298 cubic metres, on July 8, 2006; the least amount of water was used in January 2006; the daily average was 2,730 cubic metres.
In 2006, the plant operated at 53 per cent capacity.
The report stated: “This indicates that there is considerable room for additional growth within the Parry Sound system prior to the need for system capacity expansion.”
“It makes me feel good to see the quality of staff and the precautions they take,” said councillor Millie Graham. “Town taxpayers should feel very, very safe when they take water out of their tap.’
Comments
Wednesday, Apr 11th, 2007 @ 6:24pm
fluoride not dangerous
from Mary Sparrowdancer
The person who said that "a shift in fluoride is not a threat to public safety," needs to be relieved of their duties. Not only is it a threat, but poorly controled fluoride levels have resulted in deaths and major illnesses. Fluoride is a HAZMAT that should not be added to our drinking water, and certainly not placed in our drinking water by untrained or ill-informed clowns who consider it to be harmless.
posted by Bill at
10:04 AM
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