Winnipeg, MB – In an effort to reduce discoloured water events, the City of Winnipeg is changing one of the products used in our water treatment process. A report on this change will be presented at the meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Water and Waste, Riverbank Management and the Environment on November 22, 2018.
By the end of this year, the coagulant is being switched from ferric chloride to ferric sulfate. A coagulant is a product used to help particles in the water stick together so they are easier to remove.
The change is the final outstanding recommendation from the 2013 consultant’s report on discoloured water. The report noted manganese levels in the water system were the main reason behind the increase in discoloured water events since 2010. Ferric chloride was the primary source of manganese in the water system.
The new coagulant, ferric sulfate, contains less manganese and was chosen after a multi-year study. The City tested ferric sulfate for more than a year in pilot water treatment plant with encouraging results.
Residents will not notice anything different about their tap water as a result of the switch.
“We expect discoloured water events to decline in 2019 compared to previous years; however, it is difficult to predict how long it will take to see a major reduction,” said Tim Shanks, Manager of Water Services. “We thank Winnipeggers for their patience as we work towards implementing this change.”
Residents who experience discoloured water are reminded to contact 311 to report it. Visit winnipeg.ca/watertreatment for more information on the water treatment process. The report on this change is publically available through the Decision Making Information System (DMIS).