Water Volume...By the Numbers

I was playing around with some numbers earlier today and came up with the following possibly interesting facts:

All of the main waterline from the Treatment Building up to the reservoir and down to the beginning of Pineridge Rd is 6" plastic pipe. Each 100 meters of this pipe will hold about 1766 litres. That's 1.77 m3 (cubic meters). For the metrically challenged, that's about 467 US gallons or 388 Imperial gallons. I haven't actually measured the approximate length of pipe our system would have, but it could be around 1 km (1000 meters)?

When we're filling the reservoir, we're pumping about 20 US gallons per minute. That's 1200 US gallons per hour or about 4500 litres (4.5 m3) per hour. That means it takes about 20 minutes to fill each 100 meters of our 6 inch plastic mainline.

More Treatment for the Treatment Building

With fall pretty much here, it's time to get a few projects tidied up in readiness for winter. One such is the outside of the Treatment Building.

There were two issues with this facility: the most important was the state of the roof. This is another case of 20-year shingles still on a building after about 30 years. That and the buildup of moss and the rubbing of tree branches. The other was just the look of the siding.

So, in addition to some recent work inside to repair crumbling drywall, the Treatment Building now has a new coat of stain. The new roof will go on next spring. For the winter, a few temporary shingles have patched the holes that were there under the moss. Next season we will finish all the repairs that this building badly needs.

Water Treatment - Some Comparisons

The Society occasionally gets questions about why we're using the water treatment system we do and why some other system might not be better or cheaper. In this post, I'm going to try and briefly outline the various options and how they compare.

It's first necessary to say that NOT treating our water is NOT an option. This would place our community under an immediate boil water order and expose residents and visitors to the risk of illness from water-borne pathogens and parasites. Kootenay Lake water might have been safe to drink untreated in the past, but it's not safe now. In fact, no surface water source can be assumed to be safe and when you're providing water to a community, you can't take the chance. Furthermore, as a water supplier, the Society is required by Provincial legislation to provide safe water. The required goal is something called the 43210 standard - more on that in another post. Treatment, in one form or another, is the only way to get those results.

There are essentially 2 treatment strategies: 1) centralized treatment, and 2) POE/POU treatment.

Centralized treatment is what our system uses now. All water pumped from the lake passes through this system and is stored in a reservoir for distribution. The big disadvantage to centralized treatment is that ALL water goes through this system, including water that is only being used to water the garden, wash the car and such. There is no easy or cheap solution to that problem. Our system uses filtration to 1 micron and chlorination. This is a process which has been proven safe, effective and cheap. There are other possible treatment processes, including UV, sand filters, charcoal beds and so on, but some of these are more suitable to larger municipal systems which are using large volumes of water. One concern with chlorination is the chlorine and chlorine byproducts remaining in the water we drink. Given the number of people world wide that also have chlorine in their water, this wouldn't seem to be an unknown problem, but if people have concerns, it can be dealt with at the tap with simple and cheap filters.

One additional advantage to using chlorine is that it protects against bacterial and fungal growth while the water is stored, for example, while it is sitting in a reservoir. This is a benefit that water treated with UV does not have.

From our standpoint, our centralized treatment system meets provincial quality standards, it's effective (we don't get bacteria in our water), it's cheap to operate (only a couple of hundred $$ each year), and that to fix or change anything we only have to go to ONE location, not each house on the system.

POE/POU stands for Point of Entry (where all water is treated as it enters each house) and Point of Use (where a filter might be attached to the cold water tap in the kitchen, for example). POE systems might include filtration (provincial regulations require filtration to 1 micron), UV, or some other process. POU systems generally would use some kind of filter at a specific tap but could also use reverse osmosis or distillation.

A community planning to use a POE system would need to have 100% of the residents approving and agreeing to use this system. There would need to be equipment installed at each house, the Water Society would need regular access to that equipment to service it and the equipment would be owned by the Society. The cost would depend on what process was used, but could be anywhere from $500 to several thousand $$ per house. Instead of having one service location, there would be 26 (with our community's size) and even if each system cost only $500, we'd be looking at $13,000 to install a system like this.

POU systems can be installed by anyone on any tap they want. Consumers could also have their own distillation or reverse osmosis system. Such systems alone would not be approved by Interior Health for a community water supply.

The bottom line for us is that we have a system that is working now, requires little maintenance to operate and is cheap and effective.

Water Society AGM

The Society's AGM for the Fiscal Year 2009 was held on Sunday afternoon. About 18 members attended. A few basic highlights:

Maintenance (a favourite topic on this blog) has been in high gear since last spring and many essential projects have been completed with others identified for future attention. A few items remain on the agenda to complete before winter.

So far in 2010, about 175 volunteer hours of work have been contributed to the maintenance of the system. This doesn't include the time spent by people on water teams, the Board, taking water samples, testing for chlorine, doing the financial records and so on.

Financially, the Society is in good shape. It is unlikely that we will have a profit this year given our maintenance spending, but we should be close to a break-even situation by year-end.

The new metered water rates seem to be working well and should provide the Society with about as much revenue as did the old flat-rate system.

Several other items of a routine nature were discussed at the meeting, some of which will be addressed in future posts to this space.

The meeting was followed by a potluck supper.

The Treatment Building gets the Treatment

Any of you who have shared "water duty" in the past year or two will be aware of the slowly deteriorating condition of the walls in the Treatment Building. Finally, with summer rapidly disappearing, some time on the maintenance schedule was set aside for some work on this part of the system.

There are (at least) 2 problems with the building as it was constructed: wood frame walls sitting on a concrete slab and wall finishing of drywall sheets, neither suitable for a building where
there is so much water on the floor and chlorine fumes in the air. These conditions have joined forces to start rot on one bottom wall plate and most of the drywall is crumbling from the high humidity. Recently, two volunteers removed several sections of crumbling drywall, installed plywood in its place, did some painting and caulked along the wall/floor seam to prevent water getting into the wall again.

Over the past week or so, the inside of the building has taken on a new, fresh look (at least some of the walls have, so far). New shelving is being installed, old shelving is in the process of getting some paint, pump switches have been moved to a more convenient location, and wiring has been located to facilitate enhanced pump timers and/or automatic shutoff systems. Some storage is now available for a few small replacement parts that are needed occasionally in that location: canister "O" rings, injector line foot valves, canister drain valves, etc.

As well, the floor has received a coat of new paint, corrosion on some pipes and connections has been covered over with paint, the door has been stained and trimmed to reduce sticking and new filter canister drain buckets have been obtained. All that remains, for this summer, is to stain the outside of the building. Next summer, the plan is to put on a new metal roof and complete the drywall replacement.

A similar treatment is being planned for the pressure building by the reservoir. The next time you're in the building, take note of the changes, just a few of the things needed to maintain a 30-year-old system.

Tricky Leaks

For some time, there's been a suspicion that the valve on the water standpipe below the Treatment Building has been leaking. Finally, it was obvious that something was wrong so we had the valve and the line excavated yesterday. Unfortunately, the system's plans don't really show where the line is so the digging had to be careful. Finally, however, the valve and the nearby pipe was exposed. Sure enough, there was a significant leak from the valve.

A quick cut removed the pipe and a bit of pressure from 2 pipe wrenches freed the valve which was later found to be completely worn out. Once a new valve is received everything will be put back together again.

Water Society's AGM - Sept 26th, 2010

The 10th Annual General Meeting of the Water Society will be held on Sunday, September 26th, 2010 at 3:00 pm at the Kaslo Senior's Hall, 304 - 4th St.

The agenda and minutes of the 2009 AGM have been mailed to all Society members.

The meeting will be followed by a Society-hosted potluck meal. Please bring a salad or dessert.

Please RSVP by Sept 23rd so meeting organizers will be able to plan quantities.

If there are other items for the agenda, please call or e-mail with suggestions.

Comparative Water Rates

There was a notice in the August 17th, 2010 Pennywise from BC Hydro. The backstory to this notice is that BC Hydro has owned and operated the water system at West Robson (near Castlegar) for many years now, basically since the Keenlyside dam was built back in the 1960s. The operator (BC Hydro) is applying for approval for a water rates structure effective January 1st, 2010.

What's interesting at first glance is the rate structure they are asking for. The Residential Single Family annual rate will be $915/year. Reading some of the background information, I learned that $200 of that annual rate will be placed in a reserve fund for future repairs and replacements to the water system. Their system supplies somewhere in the neighbourhood of 50 residences with the potential to supply more. They put a replacement value on their system of about $4.5 million.

The Society just received a letter from the Water Comptroller in Victoria reminding all water system operators that they need to be charging rates that will allow them to accumulate sufficient funds to handle future replacement costs. Looks like free water has disappeared in one more place. Certainly a sign of things to come.

Under Cover

After an all-day session of work on Monday, the water line box up the cliff from the lake has been insulated and covered with new plywood. Some repairs remain to be completed, but at least now the cover is completed and the new insulation has been protected (we hope) from rodents by wire mesh installed inside the box.

Since repairs were started 2 months ago, a total of 53.5 volunteer person-hours have been put into this project, not counting some time spent in obtaining materials, cutting up plywood and generally preparing for the work.

During the project, it was discovered that almost all of the main water line was not insulated at all because of the dedicated work of mice and pack-rats and their urge to move the materials in the box around. It was very lucky that the main water line didn't freeze during some of our cold spells during the past couple of winters. In addition, the old plywood and supporting structures were found to be in pretty desperate shape. We have at least started to replace and repair that structure.

Thanks to to several member volunteers from the community for the hours of work spent fixing this structure: Bill J, Dave, Bob C, Gerda, Doug and Hugh, some of whom put in many hours over the past 2 months and especially to the group for spending all of Monday in +30C heat to complete the remaining part of the project in one day. A few hours of work remain to cover some of the last defects in the old box with new treated plywood, but at least now the majority of the repairs are done. Thanks again to the members who helped out on this important project.

Tackling the Cliff

Over the past couple of weeks, 3 of us have spent a few hours working on repairs to the insulated box that protects the 4-inch water line as it rises about 40 feet up a cliff from the lake pumphouse to where it is able to go underground.

The work hasn't been particularly fast: it involves removing the plywood cover, removing what insulation remains, re-packing the box with both old and new insulation, installing wire to prevent rodent damage to the insulation, reinforcing the box, replacing rotten pieces and finally installing a new treated plywood cover. So far, it's taken us about 2 hours for every 8 ft section. As of Monday, we've done about 32 feet and have about 24 feet left to go to the top of the cliff. After that, another 16 ft at the top of the cliff and the pipe disappears into the ground.

So far, we've been able to work from the ground or from ladders. As we move up the cliff, we will have to bring in climbing harnesses and ropes to provide safety.

The weather over the next few days looks uncertain so this project may go on hold until more summer-like weather returns.

The Next Project

Today, Bob C, Bill J and I spent a short time examining the insulated box that encloses the water line between the lake and the top of the cliff. It was identified as one project that needed urgent attention this season.

The pictures tell the story. The plywood covering the box is in a sad condition and badly needs replacing. So too are many of the supporting timbers and posts around the box. The 30-year-old structure is certainly showing its age.

The inside of the box was even worse than we had expected. You can see the exposed pipe. This is how it appeared as we opened the box up. Rodents have moved so much material that much of the pipe, in this location, at least, is exposed and not insulated. The only thing that keeps it from freezing in the winter is the "heat tape" that circles the pipe along its length.

The plan here is to start at the bottom and slowly work our way up the cliff, reinforcing and replacing where needed and, hopefully, encasing the pipe and insulation with a material that the rodents can't get through.

The nice thing about this project is that it doesn't all have to be done at once. We're planning a few days of a couple of hours each, working away in the sun, until it's finished. Anyone who can donate some time to help should contact us and be part of the fun.

We need to paint/stain/preserve the wood on the box and the stairs, replace insulation, install rodent-proof wire, reinforce/replace the wood members and plywood covers, and construct a concrete anchor to facilitate removal of pumps when necessary. We have until fall to get this finished.

Forecasts of a Dry Summer

The CBC Radio noon show (CBC Almanac) had a story on Monday about fears of a summer drought in many parts of BC.

Lower than average snow pack and little real rain so far this spring has the province and many municipalities and regional districts scrambling to bring in measures to conserve water. Some areas have already enacted water rationing.

There were also some brief comments about the cost of water and how to encourage water users to conserve, given that BC has the highest water use in the country. Mention was made of water meters, a practice that many local governments are starting to install. This will be an interesting story to follow this season.

Intake Extension - Part 5 & 6

After having to cancel one attempt to attach the new intakes on Saturday because of high winds, we were hoping to complete the job on Monday.

A large group of neighbours answered the call and gathered in the early morning on the beach to launch the assembled pieces. The water was a bit cold, but within a few minutes, the new pipe support and the assembled pipes were afloat and began their short trip over to the intake location.

Unfortunately, as we came out of the bay, we met the wind, coming straight down the Lake from the north. We managed to get the pipes delivered to their new location, but attaching them was quite impossible with the boat being tossed around by the waves.

After a couple of attempts, we tied everything off to the shore and went home for the day.

At 4:45 pm, we got the call from the diver. The Lake is almost mirror calm and we collect our tools, call a few neighbours and meet at the Lake for 6 pm. Within 2 hours, all the connections are made and the cage is lowered to it's spot on the bottom. It was quite a contrast to our experience earlier in the day.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support this project, help launch the pipe assembly, drive the boat, go for parts, wade in the water, provide moral support, get up early in the morning and, later in the day, give up their evening to finish the job. It's the kind of help that makes a community-owned water system possible and it is all greatly appreciated.

Intake Extension - Part 4

The new intake lines are ready and now we wait for calm weather so they can be towed out into the Lake and connected to the ends of our old lines.

The original plan was for Saturday morning, but there was a strong north wind and whitecaps were zipping along on the Lake. Not the kind of weather we were hoping for.

All we need is a few hours of calm weather (warm would also be nice...) and a crew of volunteers, all to happen at the same time.

Intake Extension - Part 3

The diver removed the old intakes the other day. As the photo shows, they were certainly showing the effects of being in the lake for 30 years.

Some of the protective mesh has come off and there was much algae and muck on the pipes.

Two large metal flanges were installed so we can bolt on the new intake lines as they are connected, hopefully in a few days.

I was struck by how shallow the pumps are, even considering the low water level in the lake. Right now, they are probably no more than 5 feet below the surface.

Intake Extension - Part 2

The pipe for our intake extension arrived on Friday. Two-hundred feet of HDPE pipe complete with welded flanges and miscellaneous parts.

We were able to have the trucker meet our group of helpers at Mirror Lake to unload, allowing us to carry the pieces down to the Lake where we tied them to several flotation devices. Later in the morning, we towed the assembled flotilla around to Beauty Beach where they will be assembled in readiness for being attached to our existing pipes.

Thanks to the group of neighbours who helped unload and to another neighbour for the loan of a boat and motor for the tow around the corner.

The project continues.

Intake Extension - Part 1

Many of you have probably seen where the two intake pipes disappear into the Lake. You may also know that they only go out into the Lake maybe 30 feet and probably aren't even that deep. This explains why we get so much silt in the filters, especially in the spring.

Current standards require intakes to be at least 100 feet deep and we have a project underway this spring to extend our intakes to conform with that standard.

Pipe has been ordered, we're arranging for a small barge to be available to work on and we've been coordinating with a local diver to have the work done, hopefully before the spring runoff really gets underway.

As usual, we will likely need a small group of volunteers to help out in various ways. We may also need access to a couple of small boats to pull the floating pipe from Mirror Lake to our intake location and to assist when the divers are working. Please let your Water Board know if you might be able to help.

Water Conservation becomes news in the West Kootenays

CBC News played a brief interview this morning with the mayor of Castlegar. That city has committed to a completion of a water meter installation project within 5 years. The mayor's comments were related to general water conservation, the cost of treatment and how reducing water use would save the community lots of money.

A Mini Fire Interface Project

Thanks to Bill, Gord, Bill and Dave for spending the morning cleaning up the brush and fire hazard around the Treatment building. This is the second year this area has received some work and the situation is starting to look much better.

Denver Siding Experiences Rate Shock

The Valley Voice - March 10, 2010 - Facing a operating deficit of over $8000, residents of Denver Siding agreed to a water rate increase. The move will raise rates from $250/year to $400. Even this won't completely solve the problem; that would take an increase in rates to around $540.

There are many problems this small water system is facing, aside from their money woes. The system doesn't meet current standards and is one of many systems on a Boil Water Advisory for years. They have about $50,000 in their reserve fund, but that can't be used for operating costs. Upgrades to the system, where that money could be used, might cost $300,000 or more.

This leaves Denver Siding residents considering the prospect of asking to join the Village of New Denver so they can connect to their water system. This would mean an increase in property taxes, because the rates in the Village are higher than in Denver Siding. Some residents are considering drilling their own wells, believing that the wells would achieve payback in 20 years. Of course, if you're running your own private system, you shoulder all the costs, deal with all the breakdowns and need to worry about where the water table is and how it might be affecting your water supply. And if the area joins with New Denver anyway..... No easy solutions here.

Not a happy situation.

New Year Brings Changes

Starting today, the new metered water rates come into effect. Water meters have been in place now for over a year and residents have been receiving quarterly reports about water use, although the old flat rates have remained in effect. That all changes today.

At the Society's AGM last August, new rates were approved by the members present. Those rates have been approved by the Water Comptroller's Office in Victoria and are now part of our water tariff.

This change will have several effects, the most important of which is the ability to charge for actual water used. Under this new system, some users will pay less and some will pay more, just as we have done for years with electricity and any other utility or commodity we use. It is also possible that the Society's costs will go down because past history elsewhere seems to indicate that water use drops when water meters are installed.

The meters will be read at the end of March and the newly designed water bills will go out in early April.