NRSC- Chloramines Open House

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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Heritage Inn, Brooks

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Newell Regional Services Corporation (NRSC) is preparing to implement a change in the water treatment process in the City of Brooks and Municipalities within the County of Newell.

Commencing on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 a change from free chlorine to a combined use of chlorine and ammonia (chloramines) will occur.

NRSC is preparing to host an information open house on October 11th, 2012. Water treatment experts, the consulting engineer and representatives from Alberta Environment and Alberta Health Services will be in attendance to answer any questions or concerns. The open house will be held at the Heritage Inn Thursday, October 11 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

It is important that residents understand the process. The open house will provide a chance to exchange information, answer questions and concerns.

The safety of the public is held in the highest regard by 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.

For further information see our web site at: www.nrsc.ca
or please call:
Ralph Havinga C.Tech: 403-794-4000
General Manager
Newell Regional Services Corporation

Click here to download this media release as a PDF.


Change of Water Treatment Process from Chlorine to Chloramines

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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, Patricia and the Villages of Tilley; that a change to the water treatment process will occur on Tuesday, October 16, 2012.

Residents of Rosemary, Duchess and Bassano will also soon be receiving water treated with chloramines.

Currently within the water distribution systems in the communities highlighted above; residual disinfection is provided by free chlorine. 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 process. The need for the more resilient combined residual that is a more stable disinfectant will arise as the regional system has expanded to include additional communities.

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:

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 affected 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 all species of fish. A typical granular activated carbon filter, available at any pet store, will remove the chloramine residual from the water.
  • • It is not enough to pour water directly from your tap into the fish tank, even though you may have a carbon filter in the tank. Water must first pass through a carbon filter.

The safety of the public is held in the highest regard by 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.

Testing of the ammonia injection system has concluded and we are satisfied with the test results.

Chloraminated water will be introduced into all distribution systems beginning the 16th of October, 2012. Residents may notice an increase in the taste and odour of chlorine during the implimentation phase but this will diminish within days.

Concurrently, NRSC is preparing to host an information open house on October 11th, 2012. Water treatment experts, the consulting engineer and representatives from Alberta Environment and Alberta Health Services will be in attendance to answer any questions or concerns. The open house will be held at the Heritage Inn Thursday, October 11th, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

For further information see our web site at: www.nrsc.ca
or please call:
Ralph Havinga C.Tech: 403-794-4000
General Manager
Newell Regional Services Corporation

Click here to download this Media Release as a PDF