Change of Water Treatment Process from Chlorine to Chloramines

The City of Brooks and Newell Regional Services Corporation wish to inform the public in the City of Brooks and County of Newell residents of Lake Newell Resort, Rainier, Scandia, Rolling Hills, and Tilley; of a change to the water treatment process.
Currently within the water distribution systems in the communities highlighted above; residual disinfection is provided by free chlorine. The City of Brooks and Newell Regional Services Corporation (NRSC) will be implementing a change to a combined chlorine and ammonia (chloramine) residual as part of the Regional Water Treatment Plant project. The need for the more resilient combined residual will arise as the regional system is expanded to include additional communities of Patricia, Duchess, Rosemary and Bassano, in the future.

The changeover will occur as part of the final phase of construction of the project, during the mid to latter part of 2010.
Chloramines are currently being used successfully to disinfect water throughout North America. In Alberta the communities of Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Red Deer are currently using chloramines to provide residual disinfection within their respective water distribution systems. Although Newell Regional Services Corporation does not supply water to as large a population, the distance for transmission of water is comparable in size to that of a large city, thus the requirement for a more resilient residual disinfection.
With the change from a free chlorine residual to a chloramine residual, it is important for consumers to note that:
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• Above all, water treated with chloramines is safe for drinking, washing, bathing and other household use.
• Chloramine residual must also be removed from the water prior to use in kidney dialysis machines. Alberta Health Services- Palliser; is aware of this change and will take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of all patients. Contact your physician for more information.
• Aquarium owners should install a filter to remove the chloramine residual from tank water due to potential toxicity to some species of fish. A typical granular activated carbon filter, available at any pet store will remove the chloramine residual from the water.
The safety of the public is held in the highest regard by The City of Brooks and Newell Regional Services Corporation. At no time will safety be compromised. We have retained experts in the field of water treatment in order to ensure all Provincial standards are either met or exceeded. Alberta Environment has approved the use of chloramines in other cities with no adverse effects. Newell Regional Services Corporation will adhere to the strict continual monitoring and sampling requirements of Alberta Environment to ensure the safety of the potable water supply for all customers.
As the project progresses; further information will be forthcoming.

For further information please call:
Ralph Havinga C.E.T. 403-362-3333 ext 259
General Manager
Newell Regional Services Corporation