The District of Kitimat’s long-awaited water treatment plant has entered the commissioning phase, marking one of the final steps before the new facility begins supplying treated drinking water to residents.
The commissioning process involves testing each component of the plant to ensure it is operating as designed before treated water enters the distribution system. According to district staff, the majority of the treatment equipment has been installed, with remaining work focused on testing and final system checks.
Engineering Services Project Manager Kevin Carlson said the process begins with dry system checks before water is gradually introduced into the treatment system.
“It kind of starts with dry system checks and then once the media is added to the filter trains, water will be introduced, and they’ll progressively be checking and commissioning each component of the system,” Carlson said.
During commissioning, water produced by the new plant will be discharged into the storm system while operators collect and analyze samples to confirm it meets drinking water standards.
“All the water treated that’s run through the new water plant will be discharged to the storm system until that system is fully checked and proven, with water samples taken and lab tested to verify that we’re getting good water quality,” Carlson said.
Once testing is complete, the district will begin introducing treated water into Kitimat’s distribution system. Residents will be notified before the transition takes place, and a precautionary water quality advisory may be issued while laboratory results from samples collected throughout the community are finalized.
The new treatment plant will continue to draw water from the Kitimat River through the existing infiltration gallery before treating it with a multi-step process that includes coagulation, clarification, ultraviolet disinfection, and sodium hypochlorite. The project also replaces chlorine gas with sodium hypochlorite.
“This is a major improvement from the safety perspective,” Carlson said.
Residents are not expected to notice a significant change in the taste of their drinking water once the plant comes online.
“When the question of taste came up previously, we reviewed that with our consultant, and they’re of the opinion that we may not notice the change,” Carlson said.
Mayor Phil Germuth said he is looking forward to the improvements the project will bring.
“I appreciate all the effort put into this, and I look forward to having water that tastes very similar to what we have today, having higher quality water and reduced advisories,” Germuth said.
Following commissioning, work will continue on renovations to Pumphouse 6 and Pumphouse 7 as the overall Water System Upgrade Project moves toward completion.
