From tea to clear – that’s how residents of Port Hardy described the improvement in the colour of their drinking water after EPCOR was hired to operate the local water system. Not only did EPCOR build the community a new water treatment plant, it did so without increasing local water rates.
The plant is located on the northern tip of Vancouver Island, BC
Prior to EPCOR’s arrival, residents of Port Hardy were facing a doubling of water rates to comply with Canadian drinking water standards. For decades, the Vancouver Island community’s tap water was the colour of dark tea and nearly undrinkable, but that has changed since their new water treatment plant started operation. EPCOR solved the District’s long term water quality issues by providing an affordable, expert solution – a new $3.67 million water treatment plant and a 20-year guaranteed performance operating contract – with no increase in water rates. The contract began on January 1, 2000.
“EPCOR has worked in our community since 2000 and they have delivered what they promised: an effective and affordable solution to our water and wastewater needs,” said Port Hardy Mayor Hank Bood. “Our water quality improved dramatically with the development of new treatment facility. A new wastewater plant will give the District confidence that we’re doing the right thing for the environment.”
Nine full-time staff at Port Hardy are part of EPCOR’s team of 450 water specialists. Operator Dennis Dugas was named B.C. Operator of the Year in 2004 by the British Columbia Water and Waste Association, selected from more than 3,000 operators in the province. EPCOR has twice been the recipient of service merit awards for its partnership arrangements in Port Hardy.
Water Treatment Facts
- Raw water is supplied from the Tsulquate River which originates at an artificial lake.
- The suface water treatment plant has a 10 ML/d capacity and uses a dissolved air flotation process with chlorination and a sand/anthracite filter.
Water Treatment Process
- Water from the Tsulquate River flows through a coarse screen to remove large debris and is then pumped to the head of the water treatment plant.
- Chemicals (aluminum sulphate alum, polymer and soda ash) are added to the raw water and mixed rapidly. This causes the tiny particles to "attract" to each other.
- In the flocculation tank the water is slowly stirred by large paddles, which causes the particles to come together forming jelly-like particles called floc.
- The flocculated water then enters the Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) tank. About 10% of the effluent in the DAF tank is recycled by a pump into a saturation tank where it is combined with compressed air. When the air-charged stream is introduced into the water, its pressure drops dramatically.
- The pressure reduction causes "swarms" of tiny air bubbles, floating the floc to the surface.
- The floc, now called float, is removed by travelling brushes, which push the float over a plate and into a trough for disposal.
- The DAF tank effluent still containing floc residue is then filtered through a double layer of granular material (coal on top of fine sand). To clean the filters, they are backwashed at intervals of 1 to 3 days.
- The filtered water is pumped to the hilltop storage tanks where the water then flows by gravity to the Town.
- Chlorine is added for disinfection in the pipe to the storage tanks, and lime and carbon dioxide are added for corrosion control. The treated water is then delivered throughout the District via the Town's distribution system.
Contact Information:
Dennis Dugas,
Water and Wastewater Supervisor
8900 Park Drive, PO Box #6
Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0
(250) 902-2200
ddugas@epcor.ca