Water world

A Vancouver-based environmental group recently suggested every province and territory is a Walkerton-in-waiting. Yellowknife's drinking water system isn't perfect, but it's close say the two government bodies responsible for water testing. Accidents happen, though. Twice last year, water results outside the normal range were recorded. Was the public notified? No? Should it have been? You decide.

Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 24/01) - The public was never at risk when water chlorine levels dipped marginally last year, says the senior environmental health officer for the Stanton Regional Health Board.

Background Everyone has Escherichia coli bacteria or E.Coli in their body. The deadly strain killing seven people in Walkerton, E.Coli 0157:H7, is commonly found in contaminated water, raw meat and/or unpasteurized milk. Once consumed, the bacteria attacks the large intestine and produces severe abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, with little or no fever. The young and old are most susceptible to the deadly E.Coli strain because of weakened immune systems. (Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors) water origins Yellowknife's drinking water originates eight kilometres north of the city, from the Yellowknife River. An epoxy-coated underground pipe built in 1969 delivers approximately 1.5 million gallons of water to 5,800 homes and businesses daily. Sixty years ago, household water was piped from Back Bay until deadly arsenic levels were detected nearby. The eight-kilometre water line is located above mine sites and free from industrial or residential contaminants. Drinking water receives it's first of three chlorine shots at Pumphouse I, at the bottom of 48th Street. Our drinking water is on record as being bacteria-free. In fact, city officials say water taken straight from the river is safe to drink without chlorine. The chemical is added as a precautionary measure. Ninety per cent of households get piped water. The remaining 10 per cent get water trucked in. Raw and return water is tested at all four pumphouses by city workers daily. The senior environmental health officer, Brad Colpitts is contacted if readings fluctuate above or below normal ranges. Chief medical health officer Andre Corriveau has the ultimate say when it comes to issuing drinking bans or boil-water orders. To the best of the city's knowledge, neither precautionary measure has been issued since the submarine line was installed 32 years ago. Twice a week, the Stanton Regional Health Board tests the water for bacteria, like deadly strains of E.Coli, lead and arsenic, at the hospital lab. Once-twice a year extensive bacteriological study is contracted out to a federal government lab. (Courtesy of the Public Works Dept.)

The otherwise undisclosed discrepancies became public this month in an anonymous letter sent to Yellowknifer. The letter raised several troubling but unsubstantiated concerns about the city's drinking water.

Senior environmental health officer Brad Colpitts confirmed a chlorine reading in the range of .01 parts-per-million at Pumphouse No. I did take place in the last three months, (normal is at least .02 parts per million).

"There was a malfunction in equipment and the city notified us," Colpitts says.

An emergency chlorinatorkicked in. At no time did bacteriological levels rise while the chlorine levels faltered, he says.

"The chlorine levels were low for a number of hours, which is not what we want, but at no time was there any adverse health concerns."

How does he know?

Stanton's Emergency department is on alert for water-borne and food-borne ailments. Colpitts is confident anyone presenting suspicious symptoms (i.e. stomach cramps and diarrhea without fever) would be reported to him.

The same anonymous letter hinted at chlorine levels rocketing to 2.2 parts-per-million in December.

Grant Beck, superintendent of operations for the city, said chlorine levels were above-average at one point in Dec. He denied the rise was anything close to amount suggested in the letter.

"We were never hiding anything. The public was not notified because (the abnormalities) did not pose a health risk," Beck says.

"Our water is safe and reliable. It's some of the best water in the world."

If chlorine levels climb substantially, a person's taste buds would reject the water before poisoning occurred, he said.

In the 32 years since the $7-million submarine line was installed, Beck said a boil water-order has never been issued.

Colpitts pointed to a silver lining in all this.

If life-threatening levels of lead, arsenic or E.coli (for example) were present, Colpitts is confident the proper actions would result.

Essentially the only time water warnings are issued is when the water is deemed unsafe by Chief Medical Officer Andre Corriveau -- not when chlorine levels make minor fluctuations.

Both Colpitts and city officials cautioned against drawing comparisons between Yellowknife's water system and the one in Walkerton.

Yellowknife draws its water from moving water (not well water) piped in from a river free of residential, agricultural or industrial development.

But the system is aging and the city knows it.

Close to $3-million in replacement piping has been added within city limits since 1984, says finance director Robert Charpentier.

Another $3-million is needed in the next five years. Similarly, the city's 2001 budget notes the eight-kilometre pipeline will need a multi-million dollar upgrade by 2011.

Public works manager Greg Kehoe remains proud of the water being pumped into people's homes.

"It's fair to say there are lower and higher levels (of chlorine) throughout the year. Overall, it's safe and reliable," Kehoe says.

For more information about drinking drink and how it's monitored, contact the city's public works department.