It is official. The new water treatment plant is up and running.
The plant, which was hooked up on Aug. 26, is the focus of many discussions in town as of late. Peter Robertson, Town of Carlyle employee, said the new system is completely different from the older one. "The new well produces three times as much water than all of the [four] other wells combined, and it is better water."
While the water is still chlorinated, the main difference that residents will notice is the water quality. Robertson said, the pH is higher so the water is soft. It should eliminate the need for water softeners. The water is still chlorinated, probably not as high as it was in the previous plant, but it is still chlorinated. We have to treat it according to government regulations."
While the plant is up and running, residents need to be aware that the boil water advisory is still in effect. This advisory is the result of the town having to use well number two, which is high is minerals, especially that of iron.
In order for the boil water advisory to be removed, the town will be performing a number of actions. First of all, the town will remove the build up of iron that is on the inside of the pipes. In order to do this, the town will send what is known as 'foam pigs' through the lines to clean them. This action will start at 10 p.m. on Sept. 11.
During this time, there will be no discontinuation of water; however, residents will experience the same discoloration that is normally experienced during the annual flushing out of the water lines.
Following the completion of the pipeline cleaning, the town will perform two days of bacterial sampling. Those samples will then be sent away for testing. Before the boil water advisory is removed, the water supply must meet government standards.
The new water treatment plant, well and pipeline cost a total of 4.5 million dollars. The project was partially funded by the government with money distributed under the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEET).
During the premier's last visit to the community on June 2, Wall said "the water works was part of the meat money that we provided. The meat money is kind of different than any government has ever done for a long time in the province. In 2008, we had a lot of extra potash revenue so we paid off some debt and lowered the taxes and then we said to the municipalities, villages, towns and cities: Here is a hundred million dollars. We'll spread it out per capita. Use it as you see fit. No bureaucracy, no programs, no forms. You guys know what you need to do. And that was what it was intended to do. To facilitate growth. This is really a growing community, a thriving community and it needs infrastructure."
