watermatters

February 2010

• No Way Norway! Save our wild salmon

  Thursday, February 18th, 2010

  More than 90% of BC fish farms are owned by 3 Norwegian companies. These fish farms are devastating our wild salmon. Less than 10% of the wild sockeye returned last summer. Time is running out to save our salmon.

  While the eyes of the Norwegian media are focused on Vancouver during the Olympics, events are being organized to tell Norwegians about what their companies are doing to our wild salmon runs.

  Join the rally during the games to SAVE WILD SALMON

  Saturday, February 20 at 1pm
  Vanier Park (behind the Planetarium)

  More >

  Posted in News & Initiatives

• Turbidity, Chlorine Levels & the New Seymour Filtration Plant

  Thursday, February 11th, 2010

  Metro Vancouver announced last month (January 2010) that the newly completed Seymour Filtration Plant is now fully operational and delivering filtered water to most of Vancouver and Richmond. The purpose of the new facility is to reduce the presence of turbidity (fine sediment), control disinfectant in our water and corrosion in the infrastructure of our water supply.

  Turbidity

  Turbidity – cloudy water – is not a contaminant per se; however it can mask the presence of disease-causing micro-organisms. By filtering the water, the presence of these organisms can be controlled thus reducing the amount of chlorine needed to disinfect our tap water.

  Turbidity is created when fine particles like sediment or organic matter wind up in the reservoirs through heavy rainfall. Other causes of turbidity can be construction, system operational changes, high water flows due to a fire or flusher truck filling, or high flows due to hot weather.

  Turbidity is measured in units called nephelometric turbidity units (NTUs). Daily turbdity readings are posted on Metro Vancouver’s site for all 3 reservoirs supplying Metro Vancouver – Capliano, Seymour and Coquitlam.

  Coquitlam Reservoir Treated Separately

  Current readings (mid-February 2010) indicate that Capilano is closed (due to excessive turbidity) and that Seymour’s turbidity levels are dramatically reduced (due to the new filtration plant) compared to the Coquitlam reservoir – which is not part of the new Semour/Capilano filtration project. Water from the Coquitlam reservoir will remain unfiltered but is treated with ozone and ultra-violet light before being chlorinated.

  Seymour/Capilano Fitration Plant – Phase 2

  The launch of the Seymour Filtration Plant represents the debut of the first phase of the larger Seymour/Capilano Filtration Plant which is now scheduled for completion in 2013. The Seymour and Capilano Reservoirs will be joined by 7km twin tunnels that are currently being bored through the North Shore mountains!!

  The objective is to filter water from both reservoirs at one plant and shunt the water back to its original mountain reservoir for gravity fed distribution to municipal locations. The yet unfiltered Capilano reservoir is currently not in use due to excessive turbidity.

  The new Seymour plant is presently supplying both Seymour and Capilano destinations. This water is currently averaging around pH 7.4.

  Boosting Chlorine Levels

  Chlorine is introduced into the water as a disinfectant before leaving all three locations – Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam treatment facilities. This is called ‘primary treatment’.

  As water flows through the distribution system, the chlorine introduced during the primary treatment stage gradually breaks down. ‘Secondary treatment’ sites introduce more chlorine to prevent bacterial regrowth as water travels to homes, businesses, and industries. Ozone cannot be used as a secondary disinfectant because it breaks down too quickly. UV treatment also is not an option, since it leaves no residual disinfectant in the water.

  Posted in Vancouver Water

• Water for Haiti – Deadline for a Lifeline

  Thursday, February 11th, 2010

  Tomorrow, Friday February 12, is the last day the Canadian government will match your donation for Haiti – dollar for dollar.

  If you want to maximize the impact of your donation, then today or tomorrow (no later) are the days to act. Your money will build desperately needed wells – immediately – if you donate via The Water Team. This is a Vancouver-based volunteer effort (working with Lifewater) that has already successfully completed 14 desperately needed wells in Haiti since the devastating January 12 earthquake.

  The Water Team has already raised and successfully utilized over $43,000 to complete these 14 wells (see photos). However, many more wells are needed – fast!

  Survivors are leaving Port-au-Prince and moving north to Cape Haitian at a rate of 5000 refugees/day. Desperate
  for clean water, the Haitian people are pleading for more water wells to be drilled as quickly as possible.

  Haiti’s need for clean water is critical and HUGE.
  Labour is volunteer but funds are needed for equipment.

  Your donation, made no later than Friday Feb 12, will be doubled by the Canadian government.

  To donate online go to CanadaHelps
  1.    Where it says ‘Search for a Charity’,write in ‘Lifewater Canada’. Click ‘Go’.
  2.    Then just follow the prompts.
  3.    At the end where it says ‘Remarks’ write in “I am a member of The Water Team and I want my donation to go to Haitian relief”.  This is important – the Canadian government requires that donations must be designated for Haiti before it will double them.
  4.    Once you have donated, please advice Susan Hoch at The Water Team (see below) of the amount so that the
  correct arrangement s are made for the Canadian government to match your donation.

  Read more about The Water Team or contact them directly…

  Susan and Severin Hoch
  Volunteer Directors
  The Water Team
  604-222-4750
  thewaterteam@gmail.com
  #250-4438 W 10th Ave
  Vancouver, BC
  Canada V6R 4R8

  Posted in News & Initiatives

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