Improving Your Drinking Water

Background

In 2020, Council approved a plan to improve the quality of our drinking water by changing the disinfection method of water sourced from the Aquifer from chlorine to chloramine. This change was approved to overcome water quality challenges due to source water and long pipelines in the region, as well as produce a better tasting water. The new disinfection method is in keeping with health and safety guidelines provided. It has been reviewed annually since the 2020 approval. You can read more about the change, the guidelines, and the discussions here.

Over the past three years, this has been rolled out to the five water processing centers across Citytown. As of May 17, we completed the rollout, and the new, improved chloraminated water began flowing through the drinking water network to your taps.

What you can expect

In addition to a better-tasting water, a few households may experience a slight change to their water color. Discolored water is normal and perfectly safe to drink, use in cooking, use in washing, and use in any of your normal household ways. The discoloration is caused by organic matter - called biofilm. Biofilm is the name of a collection of organic and inorganic materials that can collect, over time, on the insides of the pipes, and it may be picked up by the chloramine as it moves through the network. Biofilm is not harmful, and the discoloration is temporary.

Stay Informed and Involved

We're here to work through any concerns you have and listen to your feedback on the change to your drinking water.

• Take our 5-minute drinking water experience survey.
• Ask us a question about this change.
• Follow the project and we'll share updates and invite you back to provide input in the future.