WATER NEWS
Important Notice to Berkey Customers
January 21st, 2023If you have purchased Black Berkey replacement elements from Watermatters™ since August 2021 that you have stored for future use, or if your elements are in use and ... More »
Archives by Month
- January 2023
- October 2022
- October 2021
- May 2020
- July 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- February 2019
- December 2018
- September 2018
- June 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- May 2017
- March 2017
- October 2016
- June 2016
- March 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- October 2015
- August 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- October 2014
- June 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- October 2013
- September 2013
- March 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- July 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- October 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- June 2007
-
White Rock Water Woes
Friday, June 3rd, 2016watermatters™ has received many calls from residents of White Rock seeking a solution to their home water quality concerns. White Rock’s tap water situation is quite different from that of Metro Vancouver.
White Rock is facing multiple challenges regarding the quality of its tap water and the governance of its water supply. The community’s tap water will become chlorinated (city-wide) this month, for the first time ever. Elevated levels of manganese and arsenic that occur in White Rock’s water supply are cause for unease. Concerns about these water quality issues and how they might be resolved have been compounded by the impact of the recent, very unfortunate fire in White Rock and ensuing boil water advisory.
It remains to be seen how/when the City of White Rock remediates these manganese and arsenic issues. Meanwhile there is the possibility (not favoured by the mayor of White Rock) to switch the community water source from the Sunnyside Uplands aquifer (the origin of the manganese and arsenic) to water supplied by Metro Vancouver from the North Shore mountains.
watermatters™ believes that recommendations should account for the immediate situation regarding elevated levels of manganese and arsenic as well as taking into consideration the fact that system-wide treatment upgrades may be implemented for arsenic and/or manganese remediation within the next few years. That White Rock might switch to Metro Vancouver for its water supply also remains open as a possibility. Any of these eventualities would remediate some water quality issues at the City level, thus affecting water treatment requirements for your home in the future.
watermatters™ objective is to provide immediate, effective and affordable home water treatment solutions specifically to meet the needs of concerned White Rock residents. We are striving to take these municipal level uncertainties into consideration so that, down the road, residents are not stuck with an inappropriate, and unnecessarily expensive, home water treatment system.
-
Chlorine or Chloramine: White Rock asks how to disinfect tap water
Thursday, October 22nd, 2015The City of White Rock held a public forum (mid-October 2015) regarding its acquisition of the water-utility from Epcor. The forum was attended by about 30 residents.
At this meeting options were presented regarding how White Rock will disinfect its tap water to be in compliance with Fraser Health. The Director of Engineering presented two options: to disinfect with chlorine or chloramine (chlorine plus ammonia). It seems that the City’s bias is toward using chloramine. There are water chemistry reasons that might steer this decision toward the convenience of using chloramine instead of chlorine. However this choice will have significant health and environmental consequences. It is unfortunate that only a handful of White Rock residents were in attendance at this important public forum.
Chloramine is Controversial
The use of chloramine as a disinfectant is increasingly controversial.
Greater Vancouver went through a similar decision process and chose to disinfect with chlorine.
“In the early 1990’s, a comprehensive Environmental Assessment evaluated the use of both chlorine and chloramine as a secondary disinfectant. Through an extensive public consultation process in 1994, chlorine was chosen as the most favourable option.”White Rock Water Utility Billing Changes
White Rock officials also announced forthcoming billing changes resulting from the acquisition of the water utility.
Questions were raised about the as yet undisclosed amount the City has agreed to pay for the utility. The unofficial guestimate is $23 million.
Attendees of the forum also had questions about the sale of a parcel of land by Epcor. There is public controversy about this transaction involving a location (1454 Oxford St) which is now slated for high-rise development.
Feedback Requested from White Rock Residents
The City of White Rock is soliciting feedback regarding the billing changes and disinfection options – your input can be made here.
Connect with us