The west coast community of Bamfield has finally cancelled its water quality advisoryB次元官网网址攁fter five years.
The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) opened a new water treatment plant in Bamfield in August 2018, and has been given the all-clear from Island Health to lift the advisory.
In November 2013 the ACRD issued the water quality advisory after elevated trihalomethane (THM) levels were discovered in the water system. Water quality testing that had been done throughout 2013 showed consistently high levels of THMs in the drinking water.
THMs are a group of chemical compounds that are made when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water, such as wood and leaves. The level of THMs in drinking water depends on the amount of organic material in the water source.
BamfieldB次元官网网址檚 community water system was built in 1980 and uses Sugwaw Lake, three kilometres northeast of Bamfield, as its source.
In June 2017 the ACRD was awarded a federal/provincial grant of $1.4 million through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. The federal government provided funding of up to 50 percent for the eligible project cost and the BC government provided an additional 33 percent. The entire project cost $2.36 million.
Koers & Associates Engineering Ltd. coordinated the testing of various systems to make sure the technology they eventually choseB次元官网网址攄issolved air flotation (DAF) equipmentB次元官网网址攚ould work for Sugwaw Lake. Koers designed the new water treatment plant starting in the spring of 2018. Equipment was purchased from AWC Water Solutions and Ridgeline Mechanical Ltd. built the plant.
The plant treats seven litres of water per second and now provides potable water to 197 households.
BamfieldB次元官网网址檚 water technician, Les Butler, has overseen the entire project, ACRD general manager of environmental services Rob Williams said.
The new treatment plant went online in August 2018, but Island Health required the water quality advisory to stay in place until a B次元官网网址渃onsistently highB次元官网网址� record of high-quality potable water production had been established.
Anyone curious about the new water treatment plant can have a peek on March 1 between 3B次元官网网址�5 p.m., during an open house of the facility. The plant is located at 315 Grappler Rd., Bamfield.
