SASKATOON – The newly expanded water treatment plant in Saskatoon is ready to go and it promises more quality water for years to come. The project includes two new reservoirs at the Avenue H and 42nd Street facilities, and increasing usable water storage capacity from 41.1 to 71.9 million litres. The investment is intended to make way for Saskatoon’s population boom.
“Twenty people on an average single day of the week are moving to Saskatoon. It’s important to have good, safe clean drinking water and to have capacity,” said Mayor Don Atchison.
The city’s reservoirs can now hold water equivalent to 16 Olympic size swimming pools. While the project costs $77 million, the federal government has contributed $12 million. The expansion will also help in summer months, when water usage is especially high.
Additional plant features include new high lift pumping stations to reduce operating costs and an ultraviolet disinfection system. The UV system neutralizes organisms missed by other disinfectants.
“That’s an additional barrier to the process. On top of the chlorine and other chemicals that we use to disinfect the water,” said Troy Lafreniere, water treatment plant manager.
“It disinfects differently than chlorine. It’s more of a neutralizer where chlorine actually kills organisms.”
When Lafreniere was asked if he believes Saskatoon has Canada’s best drinking water, he said yes.
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But a big question on the minds of residents who still have lead pipes; is there cause for concern? Atchison says the city is constantly working to replace them and has notified residents with pipes.
“We’re phasing ours all out over a period of time. But we’re also making sure as we’re doing it, that we’re doing it in a safe manner,” he added.
More pipes are scheduled to be phased out this summer.
In the next 10 to 15 years, a new water treatment plant on the east side of the river could be an option, allowing the city to have even more capacity for clean drinking water, with an even larger population.