Why is GID researching options for treating our water? Why can't we just keep doing it the same way we always have?
Correspondence from Interior Health to Glade Irrigation District December 2010.
Excerpts from: A Small Water System Guidebook (published December 2013 by the B.C. Health Protection Branch of the Ministry of Health):
"Drinking water is used for human consumption, food preparation and other household purposes. Safe drinking water, or “potable”water, is water that is safe to drink and fit for domestic purposes without further treatment. Water sources can become contaminated with feces and other substances that can cause human illnesses through natural and human activities. Some of these activities are easy to detect and others are virtually imperceptible.Most animals and birds make their homes around water sources, such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs. They may depend on this water for drinking, food (e.g., fish and vegetation), bathing and cooling on hot summer days. Animals and birds urinate and defecate in and around water sources and many of them die in and around water sources.These natural animal processes, as well as other natural processes such as heavy rains and spring s n o w melt, can lead to contamination."
"Water-borne pathogens can live in the water we drink. Most of them cause infection and illness by growing in a person’s digestive system. Symptoms of water-borne illness often include cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle aches,weight loss, fever and chills. Severe cases can result in kidney failure, long-term illness and even death. Infants, children, the elderly a n d people with weakened immune systems are the most severely affected.
Water-borne pathogens are present in the fecal matter of infected people and animals. Any water source susceptible to animal or human activity is also susceptible to contamination with “infected” fecal matter."
"Between 1980 and 2004, there were 29 confirmed water-borne outbreaks in British Columbia,affecting tens of thousands of people (see Table 1, in Guidebook). The province has had one of the highest reported numbers of water-borne disease outbreaks in Canada. Its record for outbreaks is improving,with no reported outbreaks occurring between 2007 and 2009. However, many drinking water supply systems remain on boil water notices ,and small water supply systems are over-represented in this group. There continue to be many individual confirmed cases and there is always the matter of many cases going unreported. "
"Did you know that the majority of water-borne illnesses go unreported? There is evidence that for every one case of reported water-borne illness, there could be as many as 285 unreported cases. Many infected individuals will only get mild symptoms lasting a couple of days and assume they have a minor “stomach flu.” Usually,they do not seek medical attention. This means they do not undergo laboratory tests to confirm a case of water-borne illness, so health agencies cannot track the actual number of cases of illnesses."
The moral of this story:A lack of reported cases of water-borne illnesses is not evidence that the water you are producing is not making people sick."
Complacency occurs when there are frequent or continuous Boil Water Advisories.
What is turbidity? Why is it important?
The following from wikipedia:
"Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a Fluid caused by individual particles ( total suspended or dissolved solids ) that are generally invisible to the naked eye. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality."
"Fluids can contain suspended solid matter consisting of particles of many different sizes. While some suspended material will be large enough and heavy enough to settle rapidly to the bottom of the container if a liquid sample is left to stand (the settable solids), very small particles will settle only very slowly or not at all if the sample is regularly agitated or the particles are colloidal. These small solid particles cause the liquid to appear turbid."
"In drinking water, the higher the turbidity level, the higher the risk that people may develop gastrointestinal diseases. This is especially problematic for immunocompromised people, because contaminants like viruses or bacteria can become attached to the suspended solids. The suspended solids interfere with water disinfection with chlorine because the particles act as shields for the virus and bacteria. Similarly, suspended solids can protect bacteria from ultraviolet (UV) sterilization of water." (click here for more info)
Glade Irrigation District normally has periods of high turbidity during the spring runoff.
What is chlorine contact time? Why is it important?
Chlorine contact time is calculated by taking the concentration of chlorine in the water and multipying it by the length of contact time that the chlorine has with the water. It is important because it is an indication of whether or not water borne pathogens have been killed.
(click here for more info)
What are the treatment options and what are the pros and cons of each option?
(click here for more info)
Drinking water treatment objectives (microbiological) for surface water supplies in British Columbia
What are the sources of possible additional funding to help pay for these options?
When Glade Irrigation District has an approved plan in place with Interior Health as to how we can meet safe drinking water standards, then GID will be eligible for grants through RDCK.
Correspondence from Interior Health to Glade Irrigation District December 2010.
Excerpts from: A Small Water System Guidebook (published December 2013 by the B.C. Health Protection Branch of the Ministry of Health):
"Drinking water is used for human consumption, food preparation and other household purposes. Safe drinking water, or “potable”water, is water that is safe to drink and fit for domestic purposes without further treatment. Water sources can become contaminated with feces and other substances that can cause human illnesses through natural and human activities. Some of these activities are easy to detect and others are virtually imperceptible.Most animals and birds make their homes around water sources, such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs. They may depend on this water for drinking, food (e.g., fish and vegetation), bathing and cooling on hot summer days. Animals and birds urinate and defecate in and around water sources and many of them die in and around water sources.These natural animal processes, as well as other natural processes such as heavy rains and spring s n o w melt, can lead to contamination."
"Water-borne pathogens can live in the water we drink. Most of them cause infection and illness by growing in a person’s digestive system. Symptoms of water-borne illness often include cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle aches,weight loss, fever and chills. Severe cases can result in kidney failure, long-term illness and even death. Infants, children, the elderly a n d people with weakened immune systems are the most severely affected.
Water-borne pathogens are present in the fecal matter of infected people and animals. Any water source susceptible to animal or human activity is also susceptible to contamination with “infected” fecal matter."
"Between 1980 and 2004, there were 29 confirmed water-borne outbreaks in British Columbia,affecting tens of thousands of people (see Table 1, in Guidebook). The province has had one of the highest reported numbers of water-borne disease outbreaks in Canada. Its record for outbreaks is improving,with no reported outbreaks occurring between 2007 and 2009. However, many drinking water supply systems remain on boil water notices ,and small water supply systems are over-represented in this group. There continue to be many individual confirmed cases and there is always the matter of many cases going unreported. "
"Did you know that the majority of water-borne illnesses go unreported? There is evidence that for every one case of reported water-borne illness, there could be as many as 285 unreported cases. Many infected individuals will only get mild symptoms lasting a couple of days and assume they have a minor “stomach flu.” Usually,they do not seek medical attention. This means they do not undergo laboratory tests to confirm a case of water-borne illness, so health agencies cannot track the actual number of cases of illnesses."
The moral of this story:A lack of reported cases of water-borne illnesses is not evidence that the water you are producing is not making people sick."
Complacency occurs when there are frequent or continuous Boil Water Advisories.
What is turbidity? Why is it important?
The following from wikipedia:
"Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a Fluid caused by individual particles ( total suspended or dissolved solids ) that are generally invisible to the naked eye. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality."
"Fluids can contain suspended solid matter consisting of particles of many different sizes. While some suspended material will be large enough and heavy enough to settle rapidly to the bottom of the container if a liquid sample is left to stand (the settable solids), very small particles will settle only very slowly or not at all if the sample is regularly agitated or the particles are colloidal. These small solid particles cause the liquid to appear turbid."
"In drinking water, the higher the turbidity level, the higher the risk that people may develop gastrointestinal diseases. This is especially problematic for immunocompromised people, because contaminants like viruses or bacteria can become attached to the suspended solids. The suspended solids interfere with water disinfection with chlorine because the particles act as shields for the virus and bacteria. Similarly, suspended solids can protect bacteria from ultraviolet (UV) sterilization of water." (click here for more info)
Glade Irrigation District normally has periods of high turbidity during the spring runoff.
What is chlorine contact time? Why is it important?
Chlorine contact time is calculated by taking the concentration of chlorine in the water and multipying it by the length of contact time that the chlorine has with the water. It is important because it is an indication of whether or not water borne pathogens have been killed.
(click here for more info)
What are the treatment options and what are the pros and cons of each option?
(click here for more info)
Drinking water treatment objectives (microbiological) for surface water supplies in British Columbia
What are the sources of possible additional funding to help pay for these options?
When Glade Irrigation District has an approved plan in place with Interior Health as to how we can meet safe drinking water standards, then GID will be eligible for grants through RDCK.