The Process

The first step in the process is coagulation. A pre-established dose of Poly Aluminum Chloride (PAC) is injected and rapidly mixed with the raw water at the raw water pump station. The positive charge of the PAC and the negative charge of the turbidity attract to each other which forms floc.  The floc is heavier; therefore, settles out ofthe water better in the settling process.  The water then enters the plant at the flocculation tanks and causes a hydraulic stirring motion. This causes better floc formation.

The water then enters the settling basin were the water passes through plate settlers leaving the heavy floc particles to settle out at the bottom of the sedimentation basin. The water from the plate settlers then spills over the end of the settlers into the settled water conduit.  This water is then dispersed into the final clarification process, the filters.  The water flows down through 3 feet of anthracite, a type of charcoal, and a foot of filter sand.  Each filter is capable of treating 8,300,000 litres of water. The filtered water is then piped through to the clear well were sodium hypochlorite is added (chlorine) for disinfection.  The clear well has a storage capacity of 1,000,000 litres.

Following these processes, the finished water quality, along with the raw river water and in between process samples, are tested daily in the plant lab.  Chemical dosages are constantly monitored to ensure correct dosages.

All plant operators are TteS members,who are Certified Operators with the Environmental Operators Program, and the British Columbia Water and Waste Association.  We take pride in providing safe, reliable drinking water to the membership and residents of the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc.