The District of Kitimat is currently operating a pilot plant which will outline the updates that will be included in the anticipated water treatment system.

After having to put out a number of water advisories starting around 2018, the district decided to assess their current treatment plant.

Problems were found with water clarity and a pH balance that was lower than expected, causing the district to warn children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems to boil their drinking water. 

Working with Northern Health, the district determined that the system had aged and worked together on a plan to bring the facility back to compliance.

Director of Engineering Services Alex Ramos-Espinoza explained that the pilot plant, which was started in April, will run until this fall to test different possible treatment options. 

Once decisions on equipment and chemicals are made, the upgraded system is estimated to cost $8.25 million. 

The district had applied for funding from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program back in January, and having not heard anything back, they applied for a second possible grant from the Canada Community Building Fund earlier this month, which would cover just $6 million. 

If everything goes according to plan, the new system will be up and running by the end of 2023, putting an end to the recurring water advisories and improving the overall quality.

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