watermatters

• Did Your Tap Water Change…on April 18?

  Saturday, April 28th, 2012

  If you live or work in Vancouver, western North Vancouver, western Burnaby or Richmond (see map) the answer is probably…Yes.

  Since September 2011, your tap water has been coming from the Seymour Filtration Plant because the Capilano reservoir was closed for the winter season. Winter rains wash excessive dirt and sediment into the Capilano reservoir, making  the water murky and too difficult to disinfect effectively.

  On April 18, 2012, Metro Vancouver put the unfiltered Capilano reservoir back in service. You may have noticed a change in the clarity of your water in the week following this change, as did Metro Vancouver. Heavy rains at the end of April stirred up so much sediment that the Capilano reservoir was temporarily taken back out of service.

  According to an official at Metro Vancouver’s water quality department, a decision is being made on May 7, 2012 about when to re-open the Capilano reservoir for summer use. Turbidity levels of tap water from the 3 reservoirs (Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam) are posted daily on the front page of the Vancouver Sun and on Metro Vancouver’s website.

  What this means for you

  If you receive your tap water from the Capilano reservoir in the summer months (approximately April/May to September), you may notice that your water is not as clear during this period.

  If your water is coming from the Capilano reservoir, the pH of your tap water may drop below 7 to the acidic side of the pH scale.
  Lime is added to water coming from the Seymour reservoir after it passes through the Seymour Filtration Plant. This raises the pH to make tap water slightly alkaline. The reason why Metro Vancouver makes this pH adjustment is because acidic water is corrosive. By making tap water slightly alkaline, water supply lines last longer with fewer leaks. Leaching of heavy metals is also minimized when tap water pH is above 7.

  Impact on water filter performance

  If you use a good quality water filter, you may find that the water flow though your filter slows down more rapidly in the summer months due to elevated sediment levels (turbidity) in your tap water that may clog the filter.  Similarly, shower filters may lose their ability to reduce chlorine more quickly during this summer period. Filter cartridges should be changed if this slow down occurs.

  Future changes to your water

  If you live or work in western Metro Vancouver, you can expect your tap water supply to switch back and forth, seasonally, between Capilano Reservoir and the Seymour Filtration plant until the Twin Tunnels that join these two sources are finally put into service. This is now anticipated to happen in early 2014.

  All tap water in Metro Vancouver is chlorinated

  Chlorine is introduced to all tap water in Metro Vancouver, regardless of whether it comes from the Capilano or Coquitlam reservoirs, or from the Seymour Filtration Plant. The purpose of adding chlorine to our tap water is to disinfect it.

  Posted in News & Initiatives, Vancouver Water

• Map Details Your Tap Water in Metro Vancouver

  Sunday, January 29th, 2012

  Locate yourself on this map to find out about your tap water.*

  Yellow area – Seymour: your water is coming from the Seymour Filtration Plant and is filtered year round. It is also chlorinated. Details here.

  Purple area – Capilano: from approximately late September through late April your water is coming from the Seymour Filtration Plant and is filtered and chlorinated. Until the tunnels are hooked up to the filtration plant and the Seymour-Capilano Filtration Project is completed in its entirety (2013?), during the summer months your water will come from the Capilano reservoir. This water is unfiltered however chlorine is added. Details here are most relevant to you. Certain parts of West Vancouver supplied by Eagle Lake  are the exception. Eagle Lake has its own treatment process.

  Green area – Coquitlam: your water is coming from the Coquitlam reservoir. It is ozonated and then chlorinated before being distributed to your municipality. Plans are underway to add UV (ultra violet) to Coquitlam’s treatment process (preliminary plannning targeted for 2013). Coquitlam’s water is not part of the Seymour-Caplilano Filtration Project.

  *The colour coding referred to in this article is based on this 2006 map supplied courtesy of Metro Vancouver. Delineations are not precise and changes may have occurred since the map was created. To verify the source of your water, contact your municipality’s water quality department.

   

  If you own a home in the Metro Vancouver area and want to control the quality of your tap water with water filters specifically for your local water condtions, read details here and here.
  If you rent your home in Metro Vancouver, find countertop options here and here.

  Posted in News & Initiatives, Vancouver Water, Water Treatment Guide

• CHLORINE: when ‘less’ means you get more

  Thursday, December 15th, 2011

  Experiencing uncomfortable levels of chlorine in your water?
  Since our water in Metro Vancouver is now filtered*, less chlorine is being added.
  So why are the fumes as obnoxious as ever?

  Sediment in water interferes with disinfection processes and consumes chlorine. The Seymour Filtration Plant removes sediment from water, making chlorination more effective.

  Chlorine has a ‘residual’ effect that continues to disinfect water as it moves through the distribution lines to your tap. Now that our water is filtered, more residual chlorine is able to successfully reach your tap without being consumed before it gets there.

  Consequently, you turn on the tap and get a better dose of chlorine.

  *This applies to those of us in Metro Vancouver whose water comes from the Seymour Filtration Plant.
  Sign up for the watermatters newsletter for updates about your local water quality.

  Posted in Vancouver Water, Water and Health

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