Mountain View Regional Water Services Commission Environmental Policy

The Water Treatment Process

*Note: AHWTP does have provision for the addition of aqueous ammonia and caustic soda, but these chemicals are not currently used.

The Anthony Henday Water Treatment Plant is classified by Alberta Environment as a Class III water treatment facility. MVRWSC is responsible for the treatment, storage and distribution of water to six member communities.

The Red Deer River is the source of raw water for the AHWTP. Generally this river is a good source of water, but quality does naturally degrade during heavy rains or spring run off. When quality degrades additional treatment processes are used to maintain safe and aesthetically pleasing treated water.

Raw water is drawn into the low lift pumphouse and is pumped to the plant. There are two screens in the pumphouse which remove debris from the raw water. Also potassium permanganate can be added at this point for removal of iron and manganese; however this is not usually required.

A coagulant is added as raw water enters the water treatment plant for removal of organic material and to assist filtration. Powder activated carbon is occasionally added at this point as well to adsorb excess organic material. After addition of these pretreatment chemicals water is mixed and passes through coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation zones.

Pretreated raw water is then filtered through ultra filtration membranes. These filters remove suspended solids and are fine enough to remove harmful microorganisms. Cleaning processes are required to maintain flow through the membranes. Throughout production flow is occasionally reversed and filtered water is forced out through these membranes removing accumulated material. Aeration is used to assist the removal of material from the membranes. Membranes can also be cleaned by soaking in an acid and/or chlorine solution every few months.

After membrane filtration water is routed through ultraviolet disinfection reactors. Chlorine is then added to further disinfect the water. Treatment is completed and water is stored in a clearwell reservoir then distributed to each of the town reservoirs. Distribution within communities is managed by municipal utility services. Several industrial, institutional, and rural customers also receive water from MVRWSC.

Instruments continually monitor water quality throughout the plant and distribution system. Tests are also performed in the plant laboratory. Biological analysis is done independently by the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health.

Operation of the plant and distribution is supervised by an operator from the control room. An operator is on duty 24/7 continually managing the treatment process, distribution, and testing quality.

Material removed from the raw water during the treatment process is discharged to treatment lagoons. Here solids are settled for later disposal in a landfill. The water remaining after settling is monitored for quality and returned to the Red Deer River.