watermatters

April 2015

• pH of Tap Water Adjusted in Metro Vancouver

  Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

  The pH of tap water distributed throughout Metro Vancouver is now approximately pH 7.5. This adjustment is made at the water treatment plants before the water goes into the distribution system to prevent corrosion of pipes.

  A combination of lime and CO2 is used to raise the pH at the Seymour/Capilano filtration plant. Soda ash is used for this adjustment at the Coquitlam water treatment plant

  A pH of 7 is neutral. Above 7, pH becomes increasingly alkaline; below 7, increasingly acid.

   

  Posted in Vancouver Water, Water Treatment Guide

• When Should I Change My Water Filter Cartridges?

  Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

  If you have subscribed to WaterMatters’ automated email reminder service for a heads up about when to change your CB Tech, Water Guardian or 3-stage drinking water filter cartridge(s), notification will now come at 9 month intervals (instead of 6 month intervals). For Berkey® systems used with chlorinated water, notifications will now come at 18 month intervals.

  WaterMatters has lengthened the recommended intervals between cartridge change-outs due to long awaited improvements to our tap water recently completed by Metro Vancouver.

  Sediment levels have been significantly minimized due to water treatment infrastructure upgrades. Consequently WaterMatters is lengthening the recommended intervals between water filter cartridge change-outs for the drinking water filters.

  Please note that there are many factors that influence the longevity of a good water filter cartridge. Neighbourhood construction, water main flushing, unforeseen debris in the water lines of your home/building and biofilm are among the many possible factors that can cause early clogging of your water filter.

  Moreover, some health hazards present in our tap water occur in the form of liquids and gasses. These do not clog a filter and may present no visible discoloration on the surface of the filter cartridge. These chemicals are adsorbed onto the interior surfaces of the (carbon) cartridge. Consequently there may be no visible indicator that your cartridge has exceeded its capacity to scavenge these contaminants.

  It is very important to maintain your water filter with regular cartridge change-outs. A water filter cartridge used beyond its ability to intercept or retain contaminants can be a health hazard. For example, see the water filter cartridge displayed on the right in the photo.

   

  Posted in Vancouver Water, Water Treatment Guide

• Metro Vancouver Tap Water Upgrades

  Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

  Capilano Distribution System: Twin Tunnels in Operation
  After more than a decade of problematic construction the Twin Tunnels which join the Capilano reservoir with the Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant were put into operation in early April, 2015.

  The two parallel tunnels are each 7.1 km long, bored beneath Grouse Mountain and Mount Fromme. Water is pumped from the Capilano Reservoir (lower elevation) through the ‘raw water’ tunnel for combined treatment with water from the Seymour Reservoir at the Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant (higher elevation) where raw water gets filtered, radiated with UV (Ultra-Violet) light, then chlorinated.

  Treated water is then shunted back down to through the ‘treated water’ tunnel to the Capilano distribution system.

  The Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant is at a higher elevation than the Capilano Reservoir. Consequently excess pressure created by the treated water returning to Capilano generates energy that is being captured by an energy recovery system. This harvested energy will partially offset the cost of power needed to pump the raw water from Capilano to the Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant.

  The total cost of the Seymour-Capilano Filtration project was just over $800 million.

  ‘Capilano’ supplies tap water to most of the District of West Vancouver, western North Vancouver, Vancouver and Richmond. Residents and businesses in these areas should notice a significant year-round improvement in the clarity of tap water as a result of these upgrades.

  Seymour Distribution System

  Water quality coming from the Seymour watershed has been upgraded since the launch of the Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant in 2010. The plant treats water by filtration, UV (Ultra-Violet) light, and chlorination before introducing it into the distribution system.

  ‘Seymour’ supplies North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, eastern Vancouver, Burnaby, Delta, Surrey, Port Moody and New Westminster.

  Coquitlam Distribution System: UV, Ozone & Chlorine

  Since 2014 a UV Disinfection Facility (ultraviolet) has been treating water going into the Coquitlam distribution system. In addition, Coquitlam water is disinfected with ozone (since 2000). UV and ozone only disinfect at the time of application. Therefore chlorine is added to Coquitlam water before it goes into the distribution system to act as a residual disinfectant as water travels to your tap.

  ‘Coquitlam’ supplies Coquitlam, Langley, eastern Surrey, Port Moody, New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Belcarra and Anmore.

   

   

   

  Posted in News & Initiatives, Vancouver Water

• Vancouver Water
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• Water and Health
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