watermatters

• Top 11 Questions About Metro Vancouver Tap Water

  Wednesday, January 8th, 2014

  1. Is fluoride added to Metro Vancouver’s water?

  Fortunately, fluoride is not added to MV tap water.

  2. Is chlorine added to Metro Vancouver Tap water and, if so, why?

  Yes, chlorine is added to Metro Vancouver tap water to disinfect it before it reaches your tap.

  3. Why can’t I just boil my tap water instead of filtering it?

  Boiling water makes sense in a third world country where the most immediate water quality concern is bacterial and microbial infection. However here in Metro Vancouver our municipalities are required by law to deliver ‘microbiologically safe’ water to your tap; that means no harmful bacteria or micro-organisms. Metro Vancouver accomplishes this by adding chlorine to your drinking water in addition to the use of UV light and ozone. So if you live in Metro Vancouver, unless there is a boil water advisory, boiling your water here is just a wasted increase to your energy bill while deadening your water and possibly concentrating the real problems which have to do with chlorination by-products and possible heavy metals.

  4. What are THMs and chlorination by-products?

  Chlorine is a powerful oxidizer that kills enzymes without distinguishing between the bad bacteria in your drinking water and the good bacteria in your body. It is very reactive and forms hundreds of chlorination by-products about which scientists still know very little. The two most well know groups of chlorination by-products are THMs (Trihalomethanes) and HAAs (Haloacetic acids). There are numerous studies* linking long term exposure to chlorination by-products to various cancers. We recommend choosing a drinking water filter that can reduce your exposure to these by-products as much as possible. They are difficult to remove and run-of-the-mill water filters cannot offer sustained protection from them.

  * http://www.cancer.ca/en/prevention-and-screening/be-aware/harmful-substances-and-environmental-risks/chlorinated-water/?region=on

  5. Do I need to be concerned about pharmaceuticals in Metro Vancouver’s tap water?

  Most communities around the world now get their water downstream from human activities that dump all kinds of pollutants, including pharmaceuticals, into their source water. That is why we hear so much in the media about pharmaceuticals in drinking water. Here in Metro Vancouver we are unusually fortunate because our source water is from remote mountain reservoirs located upstream and away from human activities that introduce contaminants like pharmaceuticals.

  6.   Is Metro Vancouver tap water affected by radiation coming from  Fukushima?

  This one is tough to answer as there is insufficient data available to clearly indicate one way or the other how we are being impacted here in Metro Vancouver. WaterMatters is asked about this issue of radioactive fallout coming from Fukushima with increasing frequency, indicating that radiation is a growing concern in the minds of Metro Vancouver residents. And rightly so, given the extremely unstable circumstances that continue at Fukushima, and even closer to us in Washington*. Common sense suggests that nuclear radiation is a very real and looming, if not immediate, threat.

  Updated May 28th, 2015: We strive to stay up to date and our latest take on radiation on our coast can be found here: http://yourwatermatters.com/vancouver-water/radiation-from-fukushima-in-bc-whos-monitoring-it/  with InForm playing a key role in collecting and analyzing data (more about InForm here).

  Where to Find Reliable Information about Radioactivity from Fukushima
  Low Levels of Fukushima Radioactivity Detected at Ucluelet, BC

  Updated December 22nd, 2015: Health Canada has just released (Dec 2015) a Summary Report on Fukushima Accident Contaminants in Canada (link to Health Canada, PDF available on page) and a technical report Special Environmental Radiation in Canada Report on Fukushima Accident Contaminants (link to PDF hosted by Fukushima InForm. For additional copies see instructions on Health Canada’s Summary Report page). Fukushima InForm has commented as follows (Dec 21st, 2015) regarding this report:

  The Impact of the Fukushima on Canada: Health Canada Reports

  *The Columbia nuclear reactor, just 260 miles from Metro Vancouver, in Washington State is 300% less seismically qualified than it needs to be based on new earthquake studies.
  http://www.psr.org/chapters/oregon/news/homepage-features/columbia-generating-station.html

  7. Metro Vancouver says we have fantastic water. If it’s so great, why should I filter it?

  Metro Vancouver’s SOURCE water is enviably good because it is supplied from mountain reservoirs located upstream from local industrial, agricultural and human effluent. Nature should get the credit for this. Our water treatment plants then process this ‘raw’ water to remove sediment and to make it ‘micro-biologically safe’. UV, ozone and chlorine are used to inactivate micro-organisms present in the source water that could be dangerous to human health. Chlorine is good at killing stuff. It does not distinguish between the bad organisms in water and the good organisms inside you. Chlorine also combines with organic substances to form chlorination by-products. Studies link chlorine and these by-products to various cancers.* For these reasons, filtering your tap water with a locally appropriate water filter is a really good idea.
  * http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20434775

  8. Why should I use a shower filter with MV tap water?

  You are more exposed to chlorine in a shower than by drinking water the same chlorinated tap water. During a chlorinated shower you inhale chlorine gas. The heat of the shower opens the pores of your skin, your largest organ, bringing chlorine in contact with your bloodstream and the interior of your body.

  9. Can’t I use my shower filter to make filtered drinking water?

  Absolutely not!! Unlike drinking water filters, shower filters are designed for hot water and fast flow rates. Bacteria can breed in shower heads. Shower filters are meant for external use ONLY.

  10. Do I need to make my tap water more alkaline?

  Making your water ‘alkaline’ does not necessarily improve your water. There is a lot of under-informed buzz these days about ‘alkaline water’ which can contain just as many health-challenging contaminants as ‘acidic water’. Nature provides us with both acid and alkaline water. Metro Vancouver’s source water is naturally acidic. Metro Vancouver’s treatment plants typically adjust the pH of our tap water up into the alkaline range. They do this to protect infrastructure (stop corrosion of water supply lines), not for health reasons. If you choose to make your drinking water more alkaline be wise about how you do so and the source of the materials that you are using to alkalize your water.

  11.   Where does my tap water come from?
  Metro Vancouver tap water comes from rain water and snow melt captured in three huge reservoirs located up in the Northshore Mountains: Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam reservoirs. This water is processed in a water treatment plant before being delivered to your tap. Metro Vancouver supplies tap water to these municipalities:

  Anmore
  Bowen Island
  Burnaby
  Coquitlam
  Delta
  Langley (City)
  Langley (Township)
  Maple Ridge
  New Westminster
  North Vancouver (City)
  North Vancouver (District)
  Pitt Meadows
  Port Coquitlam
  Port Moody
  Richmond
  Surrey
  Vancouver
  West Vancouver

  Posted in Vancouver Water, Water and Health

• 2014 WATER Forecast for Metro Vancouver

  Wednesday, January 8th, 2014

  Delivering water to your tap is no simple task. Explosive population growth complicates matters. Extensive planning and a huge budget are involved in keeping you clean and hydrated.

  Here are major Metro Vancouver drinking water projects that may affect you, your neighbourhood and your water quality in 2014.

  Twin Tunnels
  North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Vancouver, Richmond
  Expected completion: Fall 2014

  Untreated water from the Capilano Reservoir will be pumped through a large tunnel to the Seymour Filtration Plant.  Treated water will be returned to the Capilano water distribution system through the second twin tunnel. This will improve water quality for residents of West Vancouver and the western reaches of Vancouver, Richmond and North Vancouver.

  The twin tunnels pass under Grouse Mountain through 7.1 km of rock. Originally scheduled for completion in 2009, these massive tunnels have taken six years to excavate, one year to install the permanent support and an additional two years to line their interior.

  Port Mann Water Supply Tunnel
  Coquitlam, Surrey, Langley
  Expected completion: Late 2015

  A massive new water supply tunnel is being constructed under the Fraser River (west of the new Port Mann Bridge) between Coquitlam and Surrey. This new water supply main that will more than double the existing capacity for water delivery to municipalities south of the Fraser River.

  Coquitlam UV Disinfection Project
  Coquitlam, Surrey, Langley, Maple Ridge

  This is a major new upgrade to ensure that the treatment of water coming from the Coquitlam Reservoir is in compliance with Health Canada’s regulations. Upgrades have also been made to the region’s ozonation facility. These upgrades will improve water quality for locations in the eastern reaches of Metro Vancouver supplied by the Coquitlam reservoir.

  The Ridge Water Utility Projects
  Maple Ridge, Langley, Surrey
  Expected completion: Fall 2014

  A large new pump station plus new water mains will increase water supply to the fast-growing communities of Maple Ridge, Langley and Surrey.

  Douglas Road Main No. 2- Still Creek Phase
  Burnaby, New Westminster
  Expected completion: Late 2014

  A new water main is being built to replace the existing 70 year old pipeline that currently delivers tap water to Burnaby, New Westminster and other parts of the Lower Mainland.

  Angus Drive Main
  Vancouver, Richmond, Delta

  Construction planning is underway for new infrastructure (running from West 28th to the Fraser River) to meet increasing demand as population growth surges in the lower mainland.

  Posted in News & Initiatives, Vancouver Water

• Tunnels, Troubles and Your Tap Water: $820 Million Hangs in the Balance

  Sunday, January 29th, 2012

  Is the Seymour Filtration Plant, completed December 2009, delivering filtered water to your tap year-round, during the rainy season only, or not at all? The answer depends on where you live and/or work, and how much longer this delayed and over-budget project will take to finish.
  
  Swollen budget, delayed delivery
  Although the Seymour Filtration Plant is completed, it is just one component of Metro Vancouver’s Seymour-Capilano Filtration Project. Unforeseen difficulties prolonged the boring of twin tunnels (each more than 7km in length and almost 4 metres in diameter) through the base of Grouse Mountain. These tunnels still need to be lined and hooked up. Their intended purpose is explained below.

  The budget for this massive yet-to-be-completed project has swollen from $600 million to $820 million. Fraught with difficulties, the original 2009 completion date has been pushed back to 2013. Read on to find out what this means for you.

  Know your source water*
  Metro Vancouver supplies water to 18 municipalities** from 3 wilderness reservoirs in the North Shore Mountains – Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam (see second map). Water from snowmelt and rain runoff is captured in these reservoirs.

  • Seymour (yellow) reservoir  typically supplies eastern Burnaby, South Surrey & western New Westminster.
  • Capilano (purple) reservoir normally supplies western North Vancouver, Vancouver, Richmond & western Burnaby. See exception below.
  • Coquitlam (green) reservoir supplies Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Langley, eastern New Westminster & Coquitlam. Its water is treated with ozone and chlorine and is not part of the Seymour-Capilano Filtration Project.

  Delivered by gravity
  Because these 3 reservoirs are situated at higher altitudes, gravity is the most cost-effective means to deliver water downhill to your municipality (see purple, yellow & green areas on map).  Typically, your water will come from the reservoir above (directly north of) your municipality (rather than cross-pumping from another reservoir).  The exception is the Capilano area (purple).

  Water quality challenges close Capilano reservoir during winter months
  Until the Seymour-Capilano Filtration Project is completed (2013?), those of us in the purple area will get unfiltered Capilano water (via gravity) during the summer months and filtered Seymour water (via cross-pumping) during the winter months (approximately late September to late April). The geological conditions surrounding the Capilano reservoir introduce an excessive amount of sediment into the water in the winter rainy season. This condition is called turbidity.

  Why Twin Tunnels?
  The tunnels are Metro Vancouver’s intended answer to this Capilano  water quality dilemma. When completed, one of these tunnels will pump water from the Capilano reservoir to be filtered at the Seymour Filtration Plant. Once filtered, the other tunnel will shunt water back to the Capilano reservoir for downhill (gravity) distribution to the Capilano (purple) area.

  

  Schematic from Metro Vancouver publication about the S-C Filtration Project

   

  Chlorine added to all sources
  No matter which reservoir your water comes from, chlorine is added before water is sent into the distribution system.

  

  SFP Filter Gallery – photo by Mary Johnston, Nov 2011

  Seymour water filtered then chlorinated
  The Seymour Filtration Plant uses a process called coagulation and flocculation to remove sediment from the incoming source water. Water then goes through a massive UV (ultra violet) treatment ‘gallery’. (See photo) Finally, chlorine is added before sending the finished water into the distribution network.

  Fortunately, fluoride is NOT added to water in Metro Vancouver.

  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.

   

   

   

  *The colour coding referred to in this article is based on the 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.

  **The 18 municipalities to which Metro Vancouver supplies water are as follows:
  Anmore
  Bowen Island
  Burnaby
  Coquitlam
  Delta
  Langley (City)
  Langley (Township)
  Maple Ridge
  New Westminster
  North Vancouver (City)
  North Vancouver (District)
  Pitt Meadows
  Port Coquitlam
  Port Moody
  Richmond
  Surrey
  Vancouver
  West Vancouver

  ***The aerial view of Seymour-Capilano Water Utility Projects (with red scematic overlay) and the Cross-section of the Twin Tunnels are from Metro Vancouver’s online publications about the project.

  Posted in Vancouver Water, Water Treatment Guide

• 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

• Chromium-6 in Metro Vancouver’s Drinking Water?

  Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

  Hexavalent chromium has been in the news lately in North America. Also referred to as chromium-6, this cancer-causing chemical was made famous in Julia Robert’s  movie, Erin Brockovich.

  A report recently released by the Environmental Working Group has drawn attention to alarmingly high levels of this metal in the drinking water of more than 31 U.S. cities.

  Chromium is a naturally occurring metal. However, hexavalent chromium is a sub-species that comes from industries like steel manufacturing, electroplating factories, leather tanneries and textile dying facilities. Chlorine can transform benign trivalent chromium into the toxic hexavalent form.

  Fortunately for those of us who live in Metro Vancouver, our tap water is not exposed to this chemical contaminant because protected mountain reservoirs, untainted by human activity, supply our water from virgin rain and snowmelt.

  However, some bottled waters may contain hexavalent chromium. Best to take control of your own water quality – filter your own!

  Posted in Vancouver Water, Water and Health

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