The very latest on drinking water from PUC

NEWS RELEASE

PUC SERVICES

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Notice to PUC Water customers status update - conversion free chlorine disinfection

This is a status update from the Public Utilities Commission to all consumers of municipal drinking water within the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Rankin Reserve regarding the recent conversion to free chlorine disinfection in the distribution system.

At this time, the chlorine dosage rate has been reduced to nearly 50 percent of the initial levels used at the start of the conversion process (now averaging 1.0 mg/L).

Furthermore, we are now adding 30 percent less chlorine to the water than prior to the switch when chloramine was used.

Nonetheless, we continue to work towards lowering the dosage rate to the lowest levels possible without compromising disinfection in the distribution system but still meeting all regulatory requirements.

We also remind consumers that by switching to free chlorine, we have stopped adding ammonia to the drinking water.

We continue to emphasize to all consumers that the water is and always has been safe for consumption straight from the tap.

The water meets and has always met all Ministry of Environment prescribed criteria for drinking water supply.

In addition, we are conducting significantly increased frequency and quantity of sampling all across the distribution system to monitor water quality.

At the outset of the conversion process through November and December past, we set the chlorine dosage at a high level to ensure that disinfection levels were sufficiently high everywhere in the water distribution system to ensure safe drinking water for all consumers.

The safety of our water service and those who use it has always been the most important consideration in this changeover.

We understand there are still some consumers experiencing objectionable chlorine taste and/or odour concerns.

PUC staff have been working closely with our consultants, Stantec and Kresin Engineering, throughout this chlorine conversion process, both prior to the conversion and since the conversion.

We have also been working closely with Algoma Public Health and both the local and Toronto offices of the Ministry of Environment.

All consumers can rest assured that we continue to work towards eliminating such taste and odour impacts as quickly as possible.

For people that do find the chlorine odour or taste objectionable, the easiest and most effective way to eliminate noticeable chlorine is to put an open top pitcher of water in the refrigerator (or on the counter) and let it stand for several hours before consuming.

Any noticeable chlorine taste or odour should disappear with time.

There is no need to boil the water; boiling is of no benefit in this regard.

Customers that continue to experience objectionable taste or odour may call PUC Customer Service at 705-759-6522 Monday through Friday from 9 to 16:30 or 705-759-6555 at all other times to register their concerns.

We regret any inconvenience to our customers. We continue to work to improve taste and odour as quickly as possible while maintaining a safe and secure water supply.

We wish to thank all our customers for their understanding and cooperation throughout this process.

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