Iqaluit to build bypass at water treatment plant

Iqaluit city council voted to build a bypass around the contaminated ground tanks at the water treatment plant Monday.

It hopes the move will bring it one step closer to restoring drinkable tap water to residents.

Iqaluit has been under a do-not-consume order for the tap water since Oct. 12 when city staff discovered a strong fuel smell in one of its two wells at the water treatment plant.

However, during a presentation at a special city council meeting Monday night, the city heard from the hired engineer firm that the entry point of the hydro-carbon contamination was near the beginning of the water treatment process at the raw water storage tank. 

The city's chief administrative officer, Amy Elgersma, told council that creating the bypass around both the city's tanks is part of a list of requirements from the government of Nunavut to lift the order. 

"It would also allow the city to have potable water that doesn't need to be boiled," said Elgersma, at the meeting. 

She said the bypass would bring water from Lake Geraldine around the tanks and go through ultraviolet light treatment and chlorination before entering the above ground holding tank and entering the distribution system. 

Normally, the city's water also runs through a sand filtration system to take out sediment and debris. 

Elgersma said this could mean debris and sediment could enter the above ground reservoir and the distribution system. As a result there could be a need for additional flushing of the system. 

This would mean the city would have to pump more water from the Apex River in the spring to make up for the loss at Lake Geraldine. 

"Taste in the water may be different than residents are accustomed to given that the water isn't filtered," said Elgersma.  

She said the city is doing testing to see if there is an odour or a different taste in the water with the bypass. 

Coun. Sheila Flaherty said residents have been complaining about the high levels of chlorine distributed from the refill tanks at the water depots, and asked if the water from the bypass will have similar chlorine levels. 

"Raw water that is not filtered is more difficult to maintain consistent levels of chlorine," said Elgersma. "That is one disadvantage of doing any kind of bypass where you would bypass a filter."