The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The phased-in operation of the new water treatment plant had gone off without a hitch as of Friday morning. By that time, the Lakeview, Willowvale and Mile 84 subdivisions were receiving the cleaner water. Technical problems caused a slight delay for the remainder of Flin Flon. Director of Works and Operations Rick Bacon expected Birchview to be hooked up over the weekend. Bacon expects that the uptown area _ everything west of Stittco Energy Ltd. _ will start receiving the newly treated water at the midway point of this week. Already some residents are noticing the difference in water quality. Bacon said he has heard from some residents who, after filling their bathtub, noticed improvements in the clarity and colour of the water. Increased pressure Some areas of town will also notice increased water pressure, he said. Situated near the Aqua Centre by Ross Creek, the water treatment plant spans some 12,900 square feet. Early in its journey, water flowing into the plant is injected with a coagulant that clumps together all of the dirt and organics that the incoming H20 brings with it. The water makes its way through a pair of towering plastic tanks before proceeding to a series of filter units. Inside each unit is a bundle of tiny, spaghetti-like tubes. Forcing the water through those tubes dislodges the clumped-together waste. As advanced as the treatment plant is, it still relies on the addition of a chemical used to disinfect Flin Flon's water for decades _ chlorine. Chlorine reliably kills organics in the water. But since this sprawling plant will remove a high volume of those organics, less chlorine will be needed than is presently the case. See 'Fewer' on pg. Continued from pg. That, in turn, should mean far fewer trihalomethanes making it to your tap. THMs, as they are known, are health-damaging chemical compounds produced when chlorine combines with organics. Every drop of water flowing through the plant is monitored 24/7 to ensure appropriate pH, chlorine levels and turbidity, which is a fancy word for water clarity. If something ever goes amiss, even after-hours, staff are notified and required to immediately rectify the problem. The plant also features an in-house lab where staff will consistently test water samples to ensure safety. The water treatment plant is more than its name suggests. It is also a water heating plant that will replace the city's antiquated No. 2 Heating Plant nearby. This heating plant section of the water treatment plant features bright white pipes twisting and turning overhead. It is here that potable water is first heated to ensure the municipal distribution system does not freeze up on cold winter days.
