Donald Teuma-Castelletti
PORTAGE DU FORT May 26, 2018
After years of having unsafe drinking water and a constant boil advisory, Portage du Fort residents have seen huge improvements in the quality of their water over the last few months – and were offered the chance to see why at an open house on Saturday.
That’s because the town’s water filtration facility was open to the public, complete with guided tours and explanations of the ins and outs, all from the town’s new water technician.
“It’s a chance to let the residents view the process [of their water treatment],” said Mayor Lynne Cameron, of the open house. “No one has any idea just how intricate this building is.”
Located at the corner of Rue Purvis and Hwy. 303, facing the Ottawa River, the facility saw residents stream in at their leisure, as the mayor, two councillors and the water technician were on-site to greet them.
Once inside, Jessica Nilsson, the technician, would give a guided tour, explaining everything from the water entering the system right up until the point it is poured from a tap.

She explained that once water is pumped into the system, it is first run through a filter of sand and charcoal, of which the facility has three.
The water, split amongst those filters, will continue into a series of membrane filters and pumps, continuing to be cleaned of dirt and bacteria, through the process of reverse osmosis.
Finally, it will reach a series of six ultraviolet lights, which the water is exposed to in order to kill off any surviving microorganisms. The water passes through a set of two lights, but the facility has six lights in total because of the capacity.
From there, the water is almost ready to enter the 3.1-metre-deep reservoir, missing only it’s dose of chlorine and soda ash necessary to meet government standards. Before water leaves the facility, Nilsson will conduct one final check of the levels of chlorine, recording the levels daily.
“I taste the water everyday to make sure it’s not too much, so everybody can enjoy it,” she continued.
Residents were welcome to ask questions during the tour, with some curious about the testing of the water once it had left the facility and travelled through the lines. Nilsson assured them that she has done this and continues to do so weekly, switching biweekly between a middle and end point of the pipes, to ensure the water arrives clean to the residents. She said that while doing so, she checks for the pH levels, as well as any contaminants that could enter, organic or otherwise.
Twice a month she also tests for e-coli at the water intake point, she added.
The new system, from H2O Innovation, features a computer monitoring the pressure through all pumps and the quality of the filter membranes, making the information readily accessible for Nilsson to maintain. As well, she can keep an eye on everything by having the information broadcast directly to her cell phone, via the internet.
She also stressed that the system has many fail-safes for the residents’ safety – if one step is missed or a valve not turned properly, the machine will not run.
In regard to leaks, Nilsson regularly walks the lines to ensure that there are no issues and tracks any previous leaks on a map in her office. She is currently aware of one small leak, to which she assured residents it is too small to cause an issue.
Cameron said that the bonus to the new facility is that water can be cut to certain streets, not affecting the rest of the town, while any issues are addressed.
The mayor admitted that, of course, the facility is expensive to have for such a small population, but that it is provincial mandate, and therefore there is no choice in the matter.
Councillor Cody Coughlin provided a closer look at the breakdown of costs affecting residents’ tax bills. Residents on water will be paying $830 per year for the use of water, as well as $700 on the building’s infrastructure. Residents living in the municipality but not on the water will still pay a portion of the infrastructure, as reflected on their tax bill.
Coughlin explained that, in accordance with the higher cost of water to residents, the mill rate on properties has been adjusted to $0.95 per $100 of a property’s value. Previously, the mill rate was $1.22 per $100 of a property’s value.
It was also shared that the old pump will not be removed from the town, staying in place in case a back-up system is necessary during an emergency. Guests were also welcome to take a peek inside this building, to see the old machine.
Nilsson has been working for the town since February 2018, having recently completed a 16-month condensed program on water treatment to become certified for the role. She is also the water technician for the municipality of Campbell’s Bay.
“I love my job, I’m inside as much as outside so you get fresh air as you fix or check for leaks,” she added. “I’m never bored.”
Cameron credited Nilsson’s recent graduation as a major bonus, as she is full of new ideas and up-to-date on all the necessary protocols and workings of the systems.
The mayor also credited the 126 residents on the treated water with a renewed respect for their supply. She explained that previous issues lay in the town’s consumption and the facility’s inability to keep up with the amount needed.
“I really feel that the people using the water are credited with this running smoothly and using water appropriately,” said Cameron. “It’s a change to the people and their way of thinking, for the better.”

05.30 Portage