Special challenges,
special solutions
Like many management areas, information
is often the key to good water management. Water professionals
point out that 'you can't solve a problem if you don't know
about it'. They stress that while water issues should not
be understated, nor over-stated, …they should be stated.
In Saskatchewan, about 450,000
people obtain drinking water from wells tapped into aquifers.
Of this number, over 300,000 people obtain water from private
wells. Estimates of water borne illnesses from private water
supplies are more difficult to isolate than if they were to
occur in a larger urban centre. For this reason experts feel
that such illnesses are under-reported. The reality is that
all of these problems are preventable with:
- Source water protection
- Effective water treatment
- Regular water testing
Although private water supplies
are the responsibility of individual owners, several agencies
can provide help. The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority tests
water for 30 common problems, and advises on treatment and
steps to protect the water source. Local public health inspectors
provide information on private drinking water and wastewater
systems. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Prairie Farm Rehabilitation
Administration provides information on best management practices
that protect water sources for small-scale rural water treatment
plants, and they provide help in developing secure rural water
supplies.
Exceeding standards
The North Battleford water contamination
incident in 2001 and the subsequent public inquiry were widely
publicized. What hasn’t been as widely publicized are
the things being done to fix the situation. For example, both
the federal and provincial governments have each contributed
$250,000 and the City of North Battleford a further $526,480
toward an ultraviolet water disinfection system, which is
installed into the water filtration process. Further, the
City has added in their surface water purification plant turbidity
meters, a flash chemical injection system and particle counters
which allow the City to meet and in most cases exceed drinking
water guidelines.
City Council has adopted a safe
water policy, which exemplifies the practices required for
safe water and public account-ability. Many procedures, safeguards
and response plans are now in place to minimize the possibility
of future water problems.
Several years ago, a consultant
designed a new sewage treatment plant for the City. Construction
is to start in 2003 and completion in 2004. The plant will
be located down stream of both existing water purification
and sewage treatment plants. The progress has been impressive
and commendable.
Securing infrastructure
The provincial and municipal governments
are working with Ottawa on implementing the Infrastructure
Canada program. This program is a partnership of the three
levels of government, First Nations and the private sector.
Infrastructure Canada will help upgrade and build infrastructure
in rural and urban municipalities. The priority of the Saskatchewan
Urban Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan Association
of Rural Municipalities and Infrastructure Canada is green
municipal infrastructure - projects that improve the quality
of our environment and contribute to our goals of clean air
and water. Priority projects target water and wastewater systems,
water management, solid waste management and recycling. An
example of a project partly funded under this program is a
new water treatment plant for North Battleford. |
