government of the northwest territories report on drinking ... · need for water research and...

Government of the Northwest Territories

REPORT ON DRINKING WATER

2016

GovernmentoftheNorthwestTerritories(GNWT)ReportonDrinkingWater‐2016

PreparedbyDepartmentofMunicipalandCommunityAffairs(MACA),

GovernmentoftheNorthwestTerritories

AllphotospropertyofMACA.

Table of Contents ExecutiveSummary.......................................................................................................................................1

Roles&Responsibilities..............................................................................................................................2

KeepingWaterClean.................................................................................................................................................2

MakingDrinkingWaterSafe..................................................................................................................................2

ProvingDrinkingWaterisSafe.............................................................................................................................3

NWTWaterStewardshipStrategy............................................................................................................4

SourceWaterProtectionandMapping..............................................................................................................5

Community‐basedWaterMonitoring,ResearchandPartnerships.......................................................6

InformationandDataSharing...............................................................................................................................8

YouthandPublicEducationandOutreach.......................................................................................................9

EffectiveMonitoringofDrinkingWaterintheNWT......................................................................10

OperatorCertification...............................................................................................................................11

GNWTCircuitRiderProgram..................................................................................................................12

WaterTreatmentPlantSpotlight‐SambaaK’e.................................................................................13

OperatorAppreciation:EnosElton,FortGoodHope......................................................................15

RemoteMonitoringofWaterTreatmentPlants...............................................................................17

Outlookfor2017..........................................................................................................................................19

2016WaterQualitySummary‐Table..................................................................................................20

Government of the Northwest Territories Report on Drinking Water ‐ 2016 1

Executive Summary

DrinkingwaterisanimportantissueforNorthwestTerritories(NWT)residents,andtheGovernmentoftheNorthwestTerritories(GNWT)providesinformationtothepubliconallmeasurestakentosupportandprotectcleanwaterintheNWT.Thisreportisintendedtoprovideresidentswithinformationsothattheycanbeconfidentinthesafetyofthewatertheydrinkeveryday.FormoredetailedinformationonNWTdrinkingwater,visitournewwebsiteathttp://www.nwtdrinkingwater.ca.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcernsaboutyourcommunity’sdrinkingwater,contactyourcommunitygovernment.

In 2010, the GNWT Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) releasedNorthernVoices,NorthernWaters:TheNWTWaterStewardshipStrategy.TheinitialActionPlanfor implementation of the strategy ran from2011‐2015, andENRhas nowdeveloped a newActionPlanfor2016‐2020.Keyelementsoftheplaninclude:

SourceWaterProtectionandMapping, Community‐BasedWaterMonitoring, ResearchandPartnerships, InformationandDataSharing,and YouthandPublicEducationOutreach.

Through the multi‐barrier approach of Source Water Protection, Water Treatment, andMonitoringandTesting,NWToperatorsworktogetherwithalllevelsofgovernmenttodeliversafedrinkingwater.Theoperators’contributionsarehighlightedinanoverviewoftheSambaaK’ewater treatmentplantand itsoperator,TerryCrothers,aswellasan interviewwithEnosElton,theoperatoroftheFortGoodHopewaterplant.

Followingrecentwaterplantupgrades,theCircuitRiderprogramoperatedbyGNWTDepartmentofMunicipalandCommunityAffairs(MACA)hasbeeninstrumentalinhelpingoperatorsupgradetheirskillsandcertificationstomeetthedemandsoftheirnewplants.RecentimprovementstoremotemonitoringsystemsandwatersampledatatrackingarehelpingtheGNWTtobetterassistoperatorswithoperationsandtroubleshooting.Waterplantupgradeswillcontinueduring2017,asthelastthreechlorination‐onlytruckfillsintheNWTarereplacedinordertomeetthefiltrationrequirementsofthecurrentGuidelinesforCanadianDrinkingWaterQuality.Thisprojectisexpectedtobecompletedin2019.


Roles & Responsibilities

ProvidingsafedrinkingwaterintheNWTtakesacoordinatedapproachbyboththeGNWTandthecommunitygovernments.The2005FrameworkforProvidingSafeDrinkingWateroutlinedthemulti‐barrierapproachtosafedrinkingwater.Utilizingfourgovernmentdepartments,theGNWTensuresfreshsafedrinkingwatertoitsresidentsthroughathreetieredsystem.

Keeping Water Clean

Alllevelsofgovernmentrecognizetheneedtomaketheprotectionofsourcewaterapriority.Thisisachievedbyselectingthepurestsourcesofwaterandprotectingthesesourcesfromcontamination.TheGNWThasprimaryresponsibilityforsourcewatermanagementandGNWTdepartmentsareinvolvedinseveralpartnershipsthatundertakeinitiativestopromotetheprotectionofsourcewater.

ENRcontributestokeepingwatercleanthroughsupportingcommunitysourcewaterprotectioninitiativesandcommunity‐basedaquaticecosystemmonitoring,collectinginformationaboutwaterquantityandqualityintheNWTincooperationwithfederalandterritorialdepartments,providinginformationandexpertadvicetoregulatoryboards,andensuringwaterlicensingrequirementsaremet.

Making Drinking Water Safe

DrinkingwatertreatmentanddeliveryisassistedatthecommunitygovernmentlevelbytheDepartmentofInfrastructure(INF)andMunicipalandCommunityAffairs(MACA).ConstructionofwatertreatmentfacilitiesareplannedandmanagedinpartbybothINFandMACAfromatechnicalreviewandprojectmanagementaspect.INFalsoprovidesmaintenanceassistancebothonsiteandindevelopingandperformingroutinemaintenance.MACAplaysaroleintheoperationofthewatertreatmentsystemthroughonsitetrainingwiththecircuitriderprogram,visitingthecommunitiesandhelpingtraintheoperatorsintheirownplant.Also,theSchoolofCommunityGovernment(SCG)withinMACAadministersthecertificationcourseswhicharerunthroughtheAssociationofBoardofCertification(ABC).Fromaprojectmanagementandfundingperspective,MACAworkswithINFandthefederalgovernmentinaccessingfundingoptionsforwaterplantupgradesandmanagingtheprojectsforthecommunities.


Proving Drinking Water is Safe

TheDepartmentofHealthandSocialServices(HSS)istheregulatoryagencythatenforcestheNWTPublicHealthAct.EachcommunityhasanassignedEnvironmentalHealthOfficer(EHO)whoworkswiththeminordertoensurethatthewaterissafeandtheregulatoryrequirementsarebeingmet.TheEHOtravelstoeachcommunitytoperformaphysicalinspectionofthewaterplantsemi‐annually,aswellastoprovideadvicetooperatorsonannualchemicalsamplingand,attimes,assistwiththeannualchemicalsamples.ItistheenforcementoftheNWTPublicHealthActthatwillguidetheEHOintheirworkwiththecommunitygovernmentswhenenforcingregulations,or,ifnecessary,issuingboilwateradvisories.

TherolesoftheGNWTdepartmentsarediverseandcoverallfacetsofprovidingsafedrinkingwater;however,thiswouldnotbepossiblewithouttheworkbeingdoneatthegroundlevelinthecommunities.ThecommunitygovernmentoperatesandmaintainstheirwaterplantwiththehelpoftheGNWT.TheresponsibilityoftheSeniorAdministrativeOfficer(SAO)istoensurecertificationandtosupervisetheoperator.Therolesoftheoperatoraretoensurethatthewateristreatedanddisinfected.Lastly,theroleofthetruckdriveristodeliverwatertothepeopleofthecommunity.


NWT Water Stewardship Strategy

NorthernVoices,NorthernWaters:TheNWTWaterStewardshipStrategy(theWaterStrategy)isamade‐in‐the‐NorthStrategydevelopedtoguidelong‐termstewardshipofourwaterresources.TheWaterStrategywasreleasedin2010inresponsetoNortherners’concernsabouttheirwater.InMay2011,thefirstActionPlan(NWTWaterStewardship:APlanforAction2011‐2015)wasdevelopedtoguidetheimplementationoftheStrategy.

Anindependentevaluationofthe2011‐2015implementationphasewasconductedin2015.TheevaluationunderscoredthesuccessofseveralimportantinitiativesandsuggestedimprovementsforwaterpartnerstoworktogethermoreeffectivelytomeetthegoalsoftheStrategy.TheoutcomesoftheindependentevaluationdirectlyinformedthedevelopmentofanewActionPlanfor2016‐2020(NWTWaterStewardshipStrategy:APlanforAction2016‐2020).

The2016‐2020ActionPlanbuildsonthemomentumofthe2011‐2015implementationphase.ItcontinuestoputintomotionthevisionoftheWaterStrategy.Theplanidentifiesleadandsupportingwaterpartnersandkeystosuccesswithassociatedactionitemsanddeliverabledates.

The2016‐2020ActionPlanalsoreflectsthesignificantpolicychangesstemmingfromtheNWTDevolutionAgreement,whichcameintoeffectonApril1,2014.UnderthisAgreement,responsibilitiesrelatedtowaterandlandmanagementintheNWTweretransferredfromIndigenousandNorthernAffairsCanada(INAC)totheGNWT.Accordingly,theGNWTDepartmentofEnvironmentandNaturalResources(ENR)isnowsolelyresponsibleforcoordinatingimplementationoftheWaterStrategy.

Thereareanumberofkeystosuccessandactionitemsidentifiedinthe2016‐2020ActionPlanthatworktowardsensuringNWTresidentshaveaccesstosafe,cleanandplentifuldrinkingwater.Prominentactivitiescurrentlyunderwayinclude:

Sourcewaterprotectionandmapping;

Community‐basedwater

monitoring,researchand

partnerships;

Informationanddatasharing;and,

Youthandpubliceducation

outreach.


Source Water Protection and Mapping

ENRsupportscommunitiestohelpidentifyanddevelopplanstoprotectlocalwatervaluesthatmaybeatriskfromactivitiesontheland.Theseinitiativesarebroadlydescribedas“sourcewaterprotection”–aplanningandmanagementprogramtoprotectthequalityofwaterthatsuppliescommunitydrinkingwatersystems.Sourcewaterprotectionplanningisintendedtoreducetheriskofdrinkingwatercontaminationbybeingthefirstofmultiplebarrierstoensuresafedrinkingwater.

The2016‐2020ActionPlanidentifiessourcewaterprotectionplanningasakeytosuccess.ENRworkedwithsourcewaterprotectionplanningexpertsattheUniversityofSaskatchewanandtheInstituteforWatershedScienceandIndigenousEnvironmentalStudiesDepartmentofTrentUniversitytodevelopaSourceWaterAssessmentandProtectionGuidanceDocument.ThedocumentisatoolthatNWTcommunitiescanusetonavigatethedevelopmentoftheirownsourcewaterprotectionplans.TheguidancedocumentandassociatedworkbookareavailableontheNWTWaterStewardshipWebsite:http://www.nwtwaterstewardship.ca/?q=swprotection.

ENRhasalsocreatedcommunitycatchmentmapstohelpsupportsourcewaterprotectionplanninginitiativesincommunities.ThesemapsarecurrentlyavailableforeachNWTcommunityat:http://www.geomatics.gov.nt.ca/maps.aspx?i=8.

In2014,ENRpartneredwiththeSambaaK’eDeneBand(SKDB)andEcologyNorthtopilottheseresourcesforthefirsttime.Theguidancedocumentandcommunitycatchmentmapswereusedandadaptedthroughoutthesourcewaterprotectionplanningprocess,resultinginasourcewaterprotectionplantailoredtocommunityneedsandvalues.WorkisongoinginSambaaK’etocontinueimplementingtheplan.

Formoreinformationaboutsourcewaterprotectionplanning,pleasecontacttheWaterResourcesDivisionofENRatnwtwaterstrategy@gov.nt.ca.


Community‐based Water Monitoring, Research and Partnerships

DuringthedevelopmentoftheWaterStrategy,communitiesandwaterpartnershighlightedtheneedforwaterresearchandmonitoringtoimproveourcollectiveunderstandingofaquaticecosystemhealth,includingwaterquality.The2016‐2020ActionPlancontinuestorecognizetheimportanceofsupportingNWTcommunitiestobecomemoreinvolvedinwaterresearchandmonitoringandtodevelopinitiativesthataddresscommunityquestions.Strongcommunityinvolvementandthedevelopmentofpartnershipsarefoundationalforthisresearchandmonitoring.Partnershipsfosterawiderangeofinnovations,includingincreasedawarenessofwaterstewardshipissues,increasedlocalcapacityandtechnicalskills,improvedtraditionalknowledgecollectionandapplication,aswellasincreaseddirectcommunityinvolvementinresearchandmonitoringprogramdesign.

Severalcommunity‐basedmonitoringandresearchinitiativesarebeingimplementedunderthe2016‐2020ActionPlan.Forexample,theSlaveRiverandDeltaPartnership(SRDP)wasformedin2010tocoordinateandmaximizecommunity‐basedmonitoringeffortsalongtheSlaveRiverandDelta.Thepartnershipiscontinuingworktowardsthisgoalandincludesmembersofcommunity,territorial,federalandAboriginalgroupsandgovernments,environmentalnon‐governmentalorganizationsandacademia.


TheNWT‐wideCommunity‐basedWaterQualityMonitoring(CBM)Programwaslaunchedin2012withthegoalsofprovidingopportunitiesforNWTresidentstoparticipateinwatermonitoringinanefforttobuildcommunitycapacityandtohelpanswercommunityquestionsaboutwaterquality.Theprogramhaditsfifthyearofwaterqualitymonitoringin2016andcontinuestoinvolvecommunitymembersfrommorethan20communitiesintheNWT,regionalpartners(e.g.DehchoAAROM),ENRstaffandotherwaterpartners.Monitoringisdoneatapproximately40sitesacrosstheNWT.DatafromtheprogramcanbeaccessedonlinefromMackenzieDataStreamhttp://mackenziedatastream.ca.FormoreinformationandpublicationsrelatedtotheNWT‐wideCommunity‐basedWaterQualityMonitoringProgram,pleasevisithttp://www.nwtwaterstewardship.ca/communitymonitoring.

TrackingChangeisasix‐yearprojectledbytheUniversityofAlberta,inpartnershipwiththeTraditionalKnowledgeSteeringCommitteeoftheMackenzieRiverBasinBoard,ENRandmanyotherpartnerorganizations.TheprojectisaimedatdemonstratingtheimportanceoflocalandtraditionalknowledgeinthegovernanceofmajorfreshwaterecosystemsandstrengtheningthevoicesofsubsistencefishersandIndigenouscommunitiesinwatershedgovernance.Themainfocusistopromotecommunity‐drivenlocalandtraditionalknowledgeresearchactivitiesintheMackenzieRiverBasin,wherepeoplehavebeentrackingchangeinwaterandfishfortimeimmemorial.

GlobalWaterFuturesisalargeresearchprojectledbyUniversityofSaskatchewaninpartnershipwithWilfridLaurierUniversity,UniversityofWaterlooandMcMasterUniversitywithmorethan140nationalandinternationalpartners,includingENR.Theaimistoimprovethewaycommunities,governmentsandindustriesinCanadaandothercoldregionsprepareforandmanageincreasingwater‐relatedthreatssuchasdecliningsourcewaterquality,floods,droughtsandalgalblooms.

Formoreinformationabouttheseandothercommunity‐basedmonitoring,researchandpartnerships,pleasecontacttheWaterResourcesDivisionofENRatnwtwaterstrategy@gov.nt.ca.


Information and Data Sharing

Waterstewardshipactivitiesanddecision‐makingmustbesupportedbyadequate,accurate,currentandaccessibledataandinformation.Informationmanagement,specificallywithregardstoimprovingwaterdatacollection,management,andsharing,isanimportantkeytosuccessunderthe2016‐2020ActionPlan.

IncollaborationwithENR,theGordonFoundationrecentlylaunchedMackenzieDataStream‐anonlineopenaccessplatformforsharinginformationaboutfreshwaterintheMackenzieRiverBasinhttp://mackenziedatastream.ca.DataStream’smissionistopromoteknowledgesharingandadvancecollaborative,evidence‐baseddecisionmaking.

ENRalsocompiledtheNWTWaterMonitoringInventory,whichprovidesinformationoncurrentwatermonitoringprogramsledbyAboriginal,federalandterritorialgovernments,communities,industryandothersintheNWT.Theinventoryisintendedtohelpwaterpartnersandthepublicfindinformationaboutthestateofthewaterresourcesintheirregion.

ENRalsostrivestosharewaterstewardshipinformation,includingresultsfromwaterqualitymonitoringandresearch,throughdifferentcommunicationformatstoreachabroadanddiverseaudience.Theseformatshaveincludedelectronicmail‐outs,regionalmeetings,workshops,themedcalendars,teleconferences,brochures,posters,presentations,onlinedatabasesandaudiotranslationfiles.

AlloftheseresourcescanbeaccessedthroughtheNWTWaterStewardshipWebsite:http://www.nwtwaterstewardship.ca/?q=monitoring_research_tools.ThewebsiteisanotherimportantinformationsharingtooltoupdatewaterpartnersandthepubliconprogresstowardsimplementingtheWaterStrategy.


Youth and Public Education and Outreach

Encouragingyoungpeopletobeinvolvedinwaterstewardshipwasidentifiedbywaterpartners,includingcommunities,asanimportantpartoftheWaterStrategy.Buildingawarenessandcapacityamongyouthonwaterandstewardshipcreatesinformedleadersanddecision‐makersoftomorrow.Althoughpublicengagementandyouthoutreachareoftencomponentsthatarebuiltintobroaderwaterstewardshipimplementationactivities,therearealsospecificeducationandoutreachinitiativesincludedinthe2016‐2020ActionPlan.

RiverstoOceansDayisanannualyouthwatereducationeventheldinYellowknife,incollaborationwithvariouswaterpartners,includingENR.Thepurposeoftheeventistoengageyouthinvariouswaterstewardshiptopicsandpromoteawarenessaboutwaterresources.Paststationtopicshaveincludedwatercontamination,drinkingwatertreatmentandwaterqualitysampling.

ENRalsoprovidessupporttobringannualCanadaWaterWeekcelebrationstotheNWT.CanadaWaterWeekisanationalcelebrationofwaterthatencouragesindividuals,organizationsandgovernmentsacrossCanadatohostorparticipateineducationalwater‐relatedevents.PastactivitiesintheNWThaveincludedwater‐themedspeakerevents,communitywatertreatmentplanttours,developmentofasourcewatereducationcurriculumandhands‐onwaterqualityclassroomsessions.

Incollaborationwithwaterpartners,ENRhasalsohostedshorelinecleanupeventsinsupportof the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. The cleanups provide opportunities to educate,empower, and engage people in shoreline litterissuesandtheassociatedimpactsonwaterqualityandhabitats.

ENRalsohastrainedstafftodelivertheStreamofDreamsmuralprograminNWTschools.Theprogramtakeseducatorsintotheclassroomtoteachyouthabouttheimportanceofwater,threatstowaterandactionswecantaketoprotectwaterbodiesinourcommunity.

Formoreinformationonyouthpubliceducationandoutreach,pleasecontacttheWaterResourcesDivisionofENRatnwtwaterstrategy@gov.nt.ca.


Effective Monitoring of Drinking Water in the NWT

SafedrinkingwaterintheNWTisimportanttoallresidents,governments,communitiesandregulators.Oneactionnecessarytoensuresafedrinkingwateristhetimelyreviewoftestresultsformonthlybacteriatests,annualchemicaltestsorforthemultiplechlorineandturbidity(suspendedparticlesinthewater)testsrequireddailybywatertreatmentplants.

RoutinetestingandreportingoftestresultstotheOfficeoftheChiefPublicHealthOfficerisrequiredunderthePublicHealthAct.TheEnvironmentalHealthUnitreviewsalltestresultsassoonasthesearereceivedtoensuredrinkingwaterqualitymeetssafetystandards.Ifthereareanysafetyconcerns,correctiveactionsaretakenimmediatelywiththewatertreatmentoperators.Ifmicrobiologicalsafetycannotbeassured,boilwateradvisoriesareimmediatelyputinplaceandthepublicisnotified.BoilwateradvisoriesareremovedonlywhentheChiefPublicHealthOfficerisassuredthatdrinkingwaterqualitymeetssafetystandards.

PublicreportingofcommunitytestresultshasmostlybeendonethroughpostingofinformationtotheNWTDrinkingWaterwebsite.However,thisolddatabaseisunabletoprovidereportstoneitherassistEnvironmentalHealthOfficersinmonitoringandreviewingcommunityperformanceortrends,norcanitprovidemoreusefulreportstoresidentsandcommunitygovernmentsaboutthefrequencyoftestingandwaterqualityresultsfortheirdrinkingwatersystems.

Anewdatabasehasbeendevelopedtocapturetestresultsforbacteria,chlorinelevelsandturbiditylevels.Community‐specificreportswillbecreatedtopresentresultsforthiscalendaryear(ie.,datasinceJanuary2017).Thesenewreportswillprovideinformationtowatertreatmentoperatorsandcommunitygovernments.ReportswillbepostedontheNWTDrinkingWaterwebsitetwiceperyear,withthefirstreportstobepostedin2018toreflecttestinginthefirsthalfofthecalendaryear.Annualchemicaltestresultswillalsobeposted.Worktoupdatethechemicalsampledatabaseisongoing.

Ifyouhavequestionsaboutyourdrinkingwatersafety,firstcontactyourcommunitygovernment.Shouldyounotbeabletogetinformationfromthecommunitygovernment,contacttheEnvironmentalHealthUnitatenvironmental_health@gov.nt.caor(867)7679066Ext49262.


Operator Certification

IntheNWTwatertreatmentoperatorshavemandatorycertificationtotheleveloftheirtreatmentplant.Certificationisachievedthroughacombinationofworkexperienceandpassingatestratedtothelevelofplanttheyareoperating.ThecertifyingbodyrecognizedthroughoutCanadaistheAssociationofBoardsofCertification(ABC).CoursesinwatertreatmentplantoperationareadministeredthroughtheSchoolofCommunityGovernmentandareheldmultipletimesthroughouttheyearandcanbeofferedindifferentregionstoallowforgreaterattendance.MACAofferscoursesuptotheclasstwolevels,asaresultthefewmunicipalitiesthathaveaclass3plantarerequiredtoattendthecourseinAlbertaandtheircertificationthroughABCcanbetransferredbacktotheNWT.IntheNWTitisalsopossiblefortheoperatorstogainrestrictedcertificationtotheirwaterplantthroughacombinationofcoursetimeandworkexperience.Theconstructionofnewwatertreatmentplantscanchangetheclassificationofthewaterplant;currentlyhalfofthenon‐certifiedoperatorsworkinginthenorthhavebeenthroughaninfrastructureupgradeandareworkingtowardsadvancementtotheirlevelofplant.

Foranyinformationoncourses,materialorcertificationnumbers,contacttheMACASchoolofCommunityGovernmentat(867)767‐9163ext.21057

74%

26%

Certified

Not Certified


GNWT Circuit Rider Program

TheMACACircuitRiderProgramprovideson‐siteinstructionforwatertreatmentplantoperators.Beginningin2004,theprogramhasbeeninstrumentalinhelpinglocalwatertreatmentplantoperatorsgaincertificationaswellasoperatetheirwaterplantinanefficientandsafemanner.Withnewtechnologiesbeingdevelopedandwatertreatmentplantsbeingupgraded,theCircuitRiderProgramhelpstobringthenewoperatorsuptospeed,aswellashelpingthecurrentoperatorlearnallthenewprocessesinvolvedwiththeirnewfacility.Inaddition,theWaterSupplySystemRegulationsenactedinSeptember2009madecertificationmandatoryforwatertreatmentplantoperators.Forthesereasons,andbecauseofhighoperatorturnover,anincreasedemphasisontrainingandcertificationisneededandtheCircuitRiderProgramassistscommunitiestoaddresstheserequirements.

Duetonewfederalguidelinesonwaterfiltration,inthepastdecade,10newwatertreatmentplantshavebeenbuiltandarecurrentlybeingoperated,andconstructionofthreemoreplantsisslatedtobestartedwithinthenextfewyears.Asaresult,therearemanyoperatorsthathaveseenchangesinboththeirplantclassificationandcomplexity.Havinghandsontrainingwhilelearninghowtooperateanewfacilityincreasestheoperator’sconfidenceaswellasprovidingasecondsetofeyesandearsonthegroundfortroubleshootingandmaintenance.

ThecertificationprocessintheNWTrequiresthattheoperatorpassatestbasedontheclassificationoftheirwatersystemaswellashavingplantexperience.TheCircuitRiderprogramcanbeagoodwaytoinspireconfidenceinthedrinkingwaterfromthecommunityandtohelpboosttheoperator’sconfidencewhilehelpingthemachievecertification.

Aswellasperformingroutinemaintenanceandtraining,thecircuitriderassignedtoeachcommunitycanalsohelpduringemergencysituationsorprovideclassroomhelptopreparetheoperatorsinadvanceofthecertificationcourse.TheMACASchoolofCommunityGovernmentprovidescoursesannuallyforthedifferentlevelsofcertification,andwilloftenworkinconjunctionwiththecircuitridertoidentifythebestcandidatetotakethecourseandhelppreparethembeforehandinordertomaximizetheprobabilityofsuccessinthecourseandtoreceivecertification.


Water Treatment Plant Spotlight‐ Sambaa K’e

SambaaK’eisatownofapproximately150peoplethatresidesinthesouthwestcorneroftheNWT.ThewatersourceisTroutLake,alargebodyofwaterthatisrelativelydeepandcoldthroughouttheyear.Althoughthewaterhasrelativelylowturbidityitisknowntohavehighcolorduetothelushenvironmentinwhichitissituated,aswellasthehighwatertable.Priorto2014thecommunityreliedonasmallsystemwatertreatmentplantwithanabovegroundseasonalfillreservoirthatallowedsomeofthesolidstosettleout,butchangestotheGuidelinesforCanadianDrinkingWaterQualitymadefiltrationmandatory.UsingfundingfromtheBuildCanadafundingprogram,theGNWT,PW&S,MACAandtheSambaaK’eBandenteredintoanagreementtobuildanewwatertreatmentplantusingabundledapproachpartneringwiththecommunitiesofLutselk’e,FortGoodHope,JeanMarieRiverandWrigleytoreducecosts.

ThenewfacilityisaClass1plantconsistingofcoagulant‐assistedmembranefiltration.Waterispumpedfromtheseasonalfillreservoirintoacoagulanttankinsidethebuildingwhereinlineflash mixers help the coagulant mix into the water and bind to the organic particles. Aftercoagulation,thewaterispumpedintothemembranetankwherenegativeairpressurecreatesavacuumtopullthewaterthroughthemicrofiltrationmembranetubesatarateof104litersperminute. The coagulated organics and turbidity are caught on the outside of themembranes.Oncefiltered,thewaterisdisinfectedwithliquidchlorineandpumpedintoachlorinecontactchamber where it retained long enough to for disinfection to take place. Once filtered anddisinfected, the water is stored in the equalization tank until it is delivered to the localresidents.


ThewatertreatmentplantismaintainedbylocaloperatorTerryCrothers,whooverseesthedaytodayfunctionswithintheplantincludingalltheregulatorysamplingandmaintenancelogs.Inorderfortheplanttoworkatitsoptimumcapacity,regularcalibrationoftheinlinemeteringequipmentisneeded,alongwithroutinemaintenanceontheplantitself.SomeofthemaintenanceitemsincluderepairingmembranefibersandperformingaquarterlyCleaninPlaceonthefiltermembranes.Onceperday,theplantperformsamembraneintegritytestbyshuttingoffthewaterflowtotheplantandfilingthemembranesfullofairinordertocheckforleaks.Intheeventofacompromisedfilter,theplantwillfailitsmembraneintegritytestandanalarmwilllettheoperatorknowthatarepairisneeded,ifthishappenstheaffectedmembranecassettemustberemovedandtestedagainwithpressurizedairtodetecttheleakandthenrepairedwithaUVactivatedepoxy.

Thecleaninplaceprocedureisperformedquarterlyandconsistsofatwo‐partchemicalbathwhichcleansthemembranestopreservethelifeoftheplant,aswellaskeeptheoptimalflowrate.Duetothesizeoftheporesinthemembranes,builduponthefibersiscommonandneedsto be removed regularly. The first step to cleaning the membranes is a high‐concentrationhypochloritebath,wherealargedoseofchlorineisaddedtothemembranesinordertokilloffanymicroorganisms, algae or bacteria that is built up on the surface of themembranes; thisprocesstakes12hoursofsoakingtime.Oncedilutedbacktosafe levels, thewater isdrained,andthemembranesarerinsedinpreparationfortheacidwash.CitricacidisaddedtothetanksinordertolowerthepHinsidethemembranechamberto2.Thisremovesanyfoulingandscalebuildupduringanothertwelvehoursoak.Thewateristhenneutralizedbackto7usingsodiumhydroxide,andthendrained.Themembranesarerinsedonceagain;theplantisthenreadytobebroughtbackonline.

NWTfacilitiessuchasthisoneareashiningexampleofhowalllevelsofgovernment,includingthecommunitygovernmentscanworktogethertoprovideclean,safedrinkingwaterinthesmallernorthernCommunitieswhilecomplyingwithchangingfederalguidelines.

KeepupthegoodworkTerryandtheSambaaK’ewatertreatmentplant!


Operator Appreciation: Enos Elton, Fort Good Hope

ThecommunityofFortGoodHopeliesonthebanksoftheMackenzieRiverintheSahturegionoftheNorthwestTerritories.ThecommunitygetstheirwaterfromtheMackenzieRiverthroughaseasonalfillreservoirtoallowturbiditytosettleanditisthenpumpedintoaclass1coagulantassistedmembranefacilitythatwasbuiltin2015.Priortothenewplant,thecommunityusedasmallsystemtruckfillstationwithchlorinedisinfection.Forthepast23yearsEnosEltonhasoperatedtheplantallthewhileconductingthedutiesofthecommunityworksforeman.In2017hesteppedasideforPaulT’seleietotakeoverasthefulltimeoperatorsoEnoscanfocusonhisdutiesasforemanuntilheretires.HewillalsoactasbackupoperatortoPaulandmentorhimwhileheislearningthenewplant.

WhendidyoustartworkingattheWTP?

Istartedbackin1994

WhatdrewyoutobeingtheWTPoperator?

PWS(nowINF)usedtorunthewaterplantuntilthecommunitytookoveritsoperations.WhenweswitchedIwastheonlyoneavailable,soittookthejob.ThroughouttheyearsotherpeoplehaveworkedherebutIalwaysendedupbackrunningthewaterplanteventhoughIwastheforeman

Whatlevelofcertificationdidyoureceive?

SmallSystemandrestrictedcertificationfortheClass1systemaftertheupgradewascompleted.

Whatweresomeofthemainchallengesyoufacedasbeingtheforemanandwatertreatmentplantoperator?

Themainproblemhasbeenencounteringissueswiththewaterplantandnothavinglocalcapacitytofixit,waitingforhelpfromoutoftown,whenpeoplearen’tavailablecantakelongerthanifwehadmoreworkersaroundhere.Also,gettingpartscanbeanissue,thenewplanthaditschallengeswiththecomputersystemandsomepartsthatfailedbutit’sallworkedoutnow.

Whatwasyourfavoritepartofthejob?

Ijustreallyenjoydoingthisjoblearningnewthingsonaregularbasis.Lookingafterthecommunity’swaterisrewardingknowingyouareprovidingnicecleanwatertothetown.

Whatwasyourleastfavoritepartofthejob?

Iactuallylikedallpartsofthejobthereareotherdutiesasforemanofthecommunitythatarenotasfunbutthewaterplanthasalwaysbeenthegoodpartofit.


Whatisyourplanforthefuture?

Iwillkeepworkingastheforemanforafewmoreyears,andhelpPauloutwiththewaterplant.ThenwhenIfinallydecidetoretirefromworkingaltogetherIwillenjoytimeatmycabinuptheriverandathomewithmyfamily.

Whatdoyoulikeaboutthenewplantascomparedtotheoldone?

Thenewplantissomuchnicerwiththesefilters.Theoldplanthadnofilterssothewaterwouldgetworsearoundthereservoirfill‐upandwhenitrainedhard.Andit’sniceandclean.

Whatwillyoumissmostaboutoperatingthewatertreatmentplant?

IamsureIwillstillspendenoughtimehelpingPauloutthatIwon’tmissitmuch.

Haveyouenjoyedmentoringyoungerstaff?

Yeahtheyarereallygood,theyareyoungandhavewaymoreenergythanmeandPaulisgoodwithcomputerssoithasmadeusingthenewplantaloteasier.

Whatisonepieceofadviceyoucouldgivetootheroperatorsjuststartingout?

Takeyourtrainingandsticktoit.Thetestishardbutifyoudothecourseandworkhardanyonecanpassit.Onceyougetyourcertificateforthewall,makesureyouhavepatienceespeciallywiththenewwaterplants.Theyhavethingsthatcangowrongoutofnowhere.

TheMACAwaterandsanitationsectionwouldliketoextendahugethankyoutoEnosforallhisyearsofhardworkanddedication!


Remote Monitoring of Water Treatment Plants

TheNWThas33communitiesand30watertreatmentplants(WTP).TheseWTPhavevaryingtechnologies,includingtruckfillstations,membranesystems,conventionalchemically‐assistedfiltration,pristinewaterdualdisinfection,directmediafiltration,greensandfilters,andwatersofteners.MACAsupportandEnvironmentalHealthOfficer(EHO)enforcementoftheregulationsarechallengedbythevastdistancesandlimitedaccesstoNWTcommunities.Therefore,itwasdeterminedlongagothatsomeformofremotemonitoringwasneededtoensurethatNWTresidentsreceivetheverybestdrinkingwater.

Initially,theonlyformofremotemonitoringwastheweeklylogsheetthatwasfaxedtotheEHO.WTPoperatorswouldperformdailychlorineandturbiditytestsandrecordthemonalogsheetthatwasfaxedtotheEHOforreview.Thisisstilldone,andgivesEHO’svaluableinformationonhowaWTPisoperating,butthedatacanbeuptoaweekold.

Inthemid‐2000’stheGNWTstartedapilotprogramtoinstallinlineturbidityandchlorinemetersinvariouscommunities.LivedatawastransmittedtoandrecordedonadevicecalledaSensaphone.DataontheSensaphonecouldbedownloadedlocallyorviaadial‐upmodem.RegulardatadownloadswererequiredastheSensaphonehadalimitedmemory.Additionally,poor‐qualityphonelinesmadedial‐upconnectionschallengingatbest.However,thesystemcouldbeusedtogetup‐to‐dateinformationfromaspecificWTPandpavedthewayforfutureremotemonitoringsystems.


NewerWTPinstallationscamewithinlinemetersandProgrammableLogicControllers.Thesedevicesloggedthevariousparametersmeasuredandhadsignificantmemorystorage.Dial‐upaccesswasalsoprovided,whichallowedremotedownload.Thedial‐upaccessstillhaditslimitations.Often,severalattemptswouldberequiredtoestablishaconnectionandtheconnectionwouldoftenbelostduringdownload.

ThenextwaveofremotemonitoringisnowcomingasNWTcommunitiesgetincreasedaccesstobroadbandinternetand3Gcellularservice,whichcanbeusedforaninternetconnection.Thisallowsforcontinuousonlinemonitoringofparameters.MACA’sWaterandSanitationstaffhavebeeninstallingasystemcalledDeviceLynkinselectNWTWTP’s.TheDeviceLynksystempassivelyreads“tags”fromthePLC,storesthedata,andthentransmitsitovertheinternet.Thisdatacanthenbeviewedremotelyandcombinedwithdatafromvariousothersystems.MACAstaffcanthenviewthisdataontheircomputersandeasilyprovidelivesupporttooperatorsinremotecommunities.AboutonethirdofNWTcommunitieshavethesesystemsinstalledwithmoreplannedforthefuture.


Outlook for 2017

Firstpublishedin2004byPWS,GoodEngineeringPracticeforNorthernWaterandSewerSystems(GEP)hasbeenaninvaluabletoolfordesignersofnortherninfrastructure.ThewaterandsanitationsectionofPWShassincemovedtoMACA.MACAisnowintheprocessofupdatingtheGEPtotakeintoaccountnewtechnologies,lessonslearned,andrecentnorthernresearch.Thesecondeditionisexpectedtobepublishedin2017.

Theremotemonitoringprogramwillseeanincreasein2017.Newdeviceswillbeinstalledinmoreofourwaterplantsgivingabetterviewofthedaytodayoperationswithintheplanttoassistwithregulatoryrequirementsandmaintenanceplanning.

TheMACACircuitRiderProgramwillcontinuetoworkwithidentifiedcommunitiestohelpoperateandmaintaintheirwatertreatmentinfrastructure,aswellastohelptheoperatorsworktowardsachievingcertificationtotheleveloftheirwatertreatmentplant.

DatatrackingandregulatoryreportingcomplianceiscurrentlybeingupdatedbyHSSwiththenewsystem,expectedtoberolledoutin2018,givingamoreaccurateviewoftheregulatorycomplianceobligationsbeingcompletedatthecommunitylevel.

TheGovernmentofCanadaandtheGNWTwilltakeonjointfundingofprojectsthroughthebuildingCanadaPlan’sSmallCommunitiesFund.ThefundingProgramwillsupportkeyinfrastructureinitiativesthroughoutthenorth,includingupgradestodrinkingwaterfacilities,roadimprovementsandrecreationalfacilities.ThroughthisprogramthecommunitiesofPaulatuk,GamètìandWekweètìwillhavenewtreatmentplantsbuilt.AlsostudiesandupgradestocurrentfacilitieswillhappeninthecommunitiesofInuvikandWhatì.FormoreinformationonthesmallcommunitiesfundintheNWTvisit:http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/small‐communities‐fund/

Government of the Northwest Territories Report on Drinking Water ‐ 2016

Community Plant

Classification Water Source Water Treatment Process Certified

Operator

Treated Water Bacteria Tests

(% of compliance, 48 required, 228 for Yellowknife)

Treated Water Chemical Tests

(1 required) 2016 2015 2016 2015

Aklavik Class II Mackenzie River (Peel Channel) Conventional (Coagulation, Flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration), Chlorination and Storage 100% 100%

Colville Lake Small System Colville Lake Cartridge Filtration, Chlorination, Storage 2% *13%

Délıne Small System Great Bear Lake Cartridge Filtration, UV, Chlorination, Storage 100% 100%

Behchoko (Edzo) Class II West Channel Conventional (Coagulation, Flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration), Chlorination and Storage 100% 56%

Behchoko (Rae) Class II Marian Lake Conventional (Coagulation, Flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration), Chlorination and Storage 100% 68%

Fort Good Hope Class I Mackenzie River Membrane Filtration, Chlorination and Storage 65% 94%

Fort Liard Class I Groundwater Well Potassium Permanganate Assisted Greensand Filtration, Softening, Chlorination and Storage 100% 100%

Fort McPherson Class II Deep Water Lake Conventional (Coagulation, Flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration), Chlorination and Storage 75% 100%

Fort Providence Class II Mackenzie River Conventional (Coagulation, Flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration), Chlorination and Storage 100% 100%

Fort Resolution Class II Great Slave Lake Conventional (Coagulation, Flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration), Chlorination and Storage 65% 75%

Fort Simpson Class II Mackenzie River Conventional (Coagulation, Flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration), Chlorination and Storage 100% 100%

Fort Smith Class III Slave River Upflow Clarifier, Filtration, Chlorination, Fluoridation, Storage 100% 23%

Gamètì Small System Rae Lake Chlorination 83% 38%

Hay River Class II Great Slave Lake Conventional (Coagulation, Flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration), Chlorination and Storage 100% 100%

Inuvik Class III Mackenzie River Coagulation, Membrane Filtration , Chlorination, Fluoride, Storage 100% 100%

Jean Marie River Class I Mackenzie River Membrane Filtration, Chlorination, and Storage 92% 96%

Łutselk’e Class I Great Slave Lake Membrane Filtration, Chlorination and Storage 100% 100%

Nahanni Butte Class I Groundwater Well Potassium Permanganate Assisted Greensand Filtration, Softening, Chlorination and Storage 100% 100%

Norman Wells Class II Mackenzie River Conventional (Coagulation, Flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration), Chlorination and Storage 100% 100%

Paulatuk Small System New Water Lake Chlorination 77% 100% Sachs Harbour Small System DOT Lake Cartridge Filtration, Chlorination 31% 65%

Sambaa K’e Class I Trout Lake Membrane filtration, Chlorination and Storage 67% 73%

Tsiigehtchic Class I Tso Lake Nano‐Filtration, Chlorination and Storage 100% 100%

Tuktoyaktuk Class I Kudlak Lake Pressure Filtration, UV, Chlorination and Storage 100% 100% Tulita Class I Great Bear River Micro‐Filtration, Chlorination and Storage 94% 100%

Ulukhaktok Small System RCAF Lake Pre‐Filter, UV, Chlorination and Storage 100% 65%

Wekweètì Small System Snare Lake Chlorination 65% 44%

Whatì Class I Groundwater Well Potassium Permanganate Assisted Greensand Filtration, Softening, Chlorination and Storage 100% 100%

Wrigley Class I Mackenzie River Membrane filtration, Chlorination and Storage 100% 92%

Yellowknife Class II Yellowknife River Membrane Filtration, Chlorination, Fluoridation, Storage 100% 100%

*Boil Water Advisory Does not meet Requirements Meets Requirements

2016 Water Quality Summary ‐ Table

HSS & MACA Staff works with communities that submit less than the required number of bacterial samples per year to improve monitoring and reporting of samples and results. Drinking water is monitored by other parameters to ensure safety of water distributed (Chlorine and Turbidity). Low sample submission does not indicate unsafe drinking water.

government of the northwest territories report on drinking ... · need for water research and...

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