Effective Water Treatment
(please see below for a link to the pdf. booklet "How to Plan for Effective Water Treatment")
You provide effective water treatment when the water consumed by customers is safe to drink at all times and is free of problems such as a bad taste or odour. The type of water treatment that is appropriate depends on many factors including the source of your water, the size of your system, the condition of your water pipes and other infrastructure elements, and the characteristics of your customer groups.
You should refer to your Operating Permit, issued by your Health Authority, to see the water quality and treatment requirements that apply. In addition you should refer to the requirements of the BC Drinking Water Protection Act and Regulation.
Some water systems draw their water from a deep groundwater source which is protected form contamination by the overlying strata; and they may not require any significant water treatment. Other water systems, which draw their water from a shallow groundwater source, or from a surface water source, will need to provide water treatment of a kind selected to meet their individual circumstances.
Typically a water system needing to treat the water, will install a centralized water treatment system. That is to say, all the treatment equipment will be assembled together in one location. Water from the source will pass through the centralized treatment plant, and then to storage and distribution to customers.
We have created a PDF document named "How to Plan for Effective Water Treatment". The document discusses the 7 steps of effective water treatment. Click the link below to download it or view it in your web browser: How to Plan for Effective Water Treatment
In the case of certain small community water supply systems, the use of Point-of Entry treatment equipment may be appropriate. In this case, treatment units are installed in each household. Look through the BC Drinking Water Protection Act and Regulation for more information.