Step 1: Water Intake and Preliminary Treatment 

• Water is sourced from the river via two intakes. The primary can manage 350 million litres/day and has three pumps directing water to the Water Treatment Plant.
• There’s a backup intake at the plant, with a screen chamber and pump house. In case of power outages, both sites have emergency power.
• The advanced intake systems meet all regulatory standards with cutting-edge technology.

Step 2: Initial Water Treatment Processes 

• On arrival at the plant, potassium permanganate is introduced to the raw water to improve its taste and odor.
• Suspended sand particles are filtered out using sand separator units.
• In the clarifiers, the water is treated with ferric sulphate and lime, leading to a process called flocculation.
• Lime counters water hardness, forming insoluble compounds that settle. This reduces hardness levels in the water.
• Ferric sulphate encourages the formation of large particles (floc) which then settle out.
• Clear water is siphoned from above the settled slurry, and any excess is sent to the Residuals Management Facility. Continuous monitoring ensures optimal water quality.

Step 3: Adjusting pH and Introducing Key Additives 

• Post-clarification, the water’s pH is adjusted to a range of 8.4-8.6.
• Chlorine and fluoride are then added.
• Chlorine acts as a disinfectant.
• Fluoride aids in dental health.
• A chlorine contact basin ensures chlorine gets adequate interaction time for effective disinfection. This basin also allows for more settling.

Step 4: Advanced Filtration 

• The water is filtered using sand and anthracite (crushed coal). The objective is to maintain low turbidity levels.
• Post-filtration, ammonia hydroxide is added. It combines with the previously added chlorine to produce chloramines, which provide extended disinfection, but with lesser taste and odor impacts.

Step 5: Further Disinfection with UV 

• The filtered water is exposed to UV lamps in the Ave H Disinfection unit, effectively inactivating viruses and bacteria.

Step 6: Additional Chlorination and Chloramination 

• After UV treatment, more chlorine is introduced.
• The water is stored in two reservoirs to give chlorine enough interaction time.
• Again, ammonia hydroxide is introduced, producing the longer-lasting chloramines as a disinfectant.

Step 7: Pumping to Distribution 

• High-powered pumps move the treated water into the distribution system, maintaining a set pressure.

Step 8: Reservoir Storage 

• Saskatoon has two water reservoirs, used especially when water demand surpasses the plant’s production.
• Reservoirs have their own pumps, maintaining water pressure and ensuring distribution.

Water Treatment and Distribution in Rural and Indigenous Communities

Canada, with its vast landscapes and diverse geography, encompasses numerous rural and Indigenous communities. For these communities, access to clean and safe drinking water isn’t always a given, and their water treatment and distribution systems can differ from urban areas.

Unique Challenges: 

• Source Vulnerability: Many rural areas rely on ground water sources which can be susceptible to contamination.
• Infrastructure Limitations: Due to the remote nature of some communities, there might be lack of infrastructure and technical expertise to build and maintain advanced water treatment plants.
• Funding Constraints: With smaller populations, these communities often lack the funds for large-scale water treatment facilities.

Customized Solutions: 

• Point-of-Entry Systems: These treat water at the point where water enters a home or facility, ensuring safe drinking water even if the larger community system is compromised.
• Point-of-Use Systems: Devices like water filters that treat water at the point of consumption, such as at a tap.
• Rainwater Harvesting: Some communities employ rainwater collection systems that store and treat rainwater for various uses.

Government Interventions: 

• Boil Water Advisories (BWAs): Given the prevalence of waterborne diseases in some communities, BWAs are issued as a preventive measure. However, the reliance on BWAs has been a contentious issue, with some Indigenous communities under advisory for years.
• Funding Initiatives: The Canadian government has been investing in water infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities, aiming to end long-term drinking water advisories.

Collaboration and Capacity Building: 

• Community-Led Initiatives: Some communities have initiated water projects tailored to their specific needs, often with the support of NGOs or government grants.
• Training Programs: Building local capacity by training community members in water treatment, system maintenance, and management has proven successful in many areas. This ensures long-term, sustainable solutions and reduces reliance on external agencies.
• Traditional Knowledge Integration:
• Respecting and Integrating Indigenous Knowledge: Indigenous peoples have lived in harmony with their environments for millennia. Merging traditional knowledge with modern science can offer holistic and sustainable water management approaches.

In essence, while rural and Indigenous communities in Canada face unique challenges in accessing safe drinking water, continuous efforts from community leaders, government, and NGOs aim to bridge this gap. It’s vital to approach water treatment and distribution in these communities with respect for tradition, local knowledge, and the unique environmental challenges they face.

Potable Water Management Best Practices

Communities across Canada prioritize the delivery of reliable, safe, and high-quality drinking water for their residents. Typically, a community’s water treatment facility ensures the provision of potable water that adheres to these fundamental principles:

• Complies with the provincial regulations and operational permits.
• Maintains water hardness levels below 160 mg/L (measured as CaCO3).
• Abides by the specific guidelines for fluoride concentrations set out by regional water agencies.
• Guarantees that water pressure is maintained at 38 psi at the main for the majority of the time, with provisions to cater to daily and emergency demands, such as fire emergencies.
• Ensures that fire hydrants align with the necessary standards most of the time.
• Adopts standardized water metering practices, often in line with nationally recognized standards like those from the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA).

In case of unforeseen disruptions in water service: 

• Communities typically aim to repair and restore service quickly, often within 24 hours for most incidents.
• They ensure ample storage for emergency situations, allowing for a rationed supply to be sustained.
• In scenarios like city-wide power failures, backup equipment is geared to maintain the usual consumption levels.

Moreover, some communities may extend their water supply services beyond their boundaries, based on agreements and local policies.

Nationally, Health Canada collaborates with provincial and territorial health and environmental departments to devise the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. On a more regional level, committees might set Municipal Drinking Water Quality Objectives that consider the specific needs and challenges of provinces like Saskatchewan.

Quality control

Saskatoon’s Water Lab: A Real-Life Example 

In Saskatoon, there’s a special lab just for checking water quality. Here’s how they make sure the city’s water is top-notch:

• Certifications and Approvals: The lab has a CALA certification, which is a stamp of approval that says they know what they’re doing. This matches international standards, so it’s like saying they’re one of the best!
• Lots of Testing: Imagine checking the water over 50,000 times a year! With the help of modern tools, that’s what the experts at this lab do.
• Regular Check-Ups: Just like you go to a doctor for a check-up, the lab regularly examines the city’s drinking water to ensure it remains clean and safe.
• Supporting the Big Cleaning Facility: There’s a big place in Saskatoon called the Water Treatment Plant. It’s like a massive washing machine for water. The lab does tests to help this plant run smoothly.
• Listening to People: If someone in Saskatoon thinks their water looks funny or smells odd, the lab checks it out. They take people’s concerns seriously.
• Testing at Many Points: They don’t just check the water at one place. They test it in the pipes around the city and even from the places the water originally comes from.
• Helping with Big Projects: The lab isn’t just about testing. They also give advice on big projects related to water and nature in the city.