Despite concerns and complaints from locals and some members of city council about the smell and taste of our drinking water, it was decided at Monday's meeting to not request the PUC to do a third party study to see how people feel about the switch.
Last year, the PUC switched from chloramine disinfection to free chlorine in the local water distribution system.
The PUC says free chlorine offers several advantages, like eliminating the use of aqueous ammonia in the treatment process and it's less likely to promote corrosion in the lead service lines which serve many older homes.
Ward 1 Councillor Steve Butland says he's been getting around two complaints per week and speculates the actual number of Saultites dissatisfied with the switch over to be much higher.
"It is a very real problem and if you don't believe me, talk to people," said Butland. "I think people have stopped calling, but if you go to them they'll tell you."
Butland put forward a motion to request the PUC to conduct a city wide third-party survey to determine the perceived impact of the switch to disinfection with free chlorine, but the motion was defeated.
Ward 1 Councillor Paul Christian - who seconded the motion - checked with a local grocer who told him immediately upon conversion their water bottle sales spike 25 percent and hasn't let up.
"The water in Sault Ste. Marie used to be the best anywhere, it's not anymore," said Christian. "It tastes different and what I find that's really disconcerting is that some days you can really taste a difference and others you can't."
Butland added one grocery store in town reported to him they sold over 70,000 bottles of water in a week and he believes the switch has driven people towards using water bottles.
Mayor Debbie Amaroso concurred and said she's been passing along the complaints the mayor's office has received to the PUC.
While unaware of exactly how many complaints she's received, Amaroso did say they've come on a regular basis.
"I definitely notice a difference in our water. It's all I drink and I notice a difference," she said.
Ward 3 Councillor Pat Mick sits on the PUC Board of Directors and said complaints have dropped considerably since the start of the new year and the PUC now averages around two-to-three calls per week.
The PUC said there are no clear problem areas and the calls are dispersed across the city.
"From the PUC perspective, using chlorine is a definite upgrade from the previous method of using chloramine. By switching to chlorine they have eliminated the use of ammonia," Mick said.
She added the PUC conducts weekly testing of water to insure it meets requirements and historically they've always had calls about odor concern.
Mick reached out to other communities who've made the switch and was told they haven't experienced any issues.
Ward 2 Councillor Susan Myers added she was uneasy of voting for the motion because it would be "dangerous grounds" to ask the PUC to do a study without saying what to do after the results are collected.
Dominic Parrella, Vice President Operations and Engineering at the PUC, said at a past council meeting it would cost approximately $2 million to switch back to the previously used system.
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