Water quality: key priority for council, says mayor

The town council of Baie Verte is putting water quality high on their list of priorities, says Mayor Gerald Acreman.

The beginning of the town's estimated $3 million water treatment project started three years ago when an underground water storage tank - that holds 300,000 gallons was built.

The project is multilaterally funded, with council paying 20 per cent of the total cost, and the federal and provincial governments paying the balance.

"It's quite affordable, and one of the most important things we need is clean drinking water," he said.

The next stage is the installation of a modern micron water filtration system, which should begin in November, said Mr. Acreman.

The filtration system the town uses now is an outdated wire mesh screen, coupled with a chlorination system, said the mayor. And the screen is only good for preventing leaves and other large objects from entering into the town's water supply.

"Hopefully before the end of the year our new treatment plant will be in operation," he said. "It should be a big improvement to the water quality."

The town has been on a boil order for roughly a month.

The facility, located at the beginning of town, will also accommodate a new emergency generator, to ensure the accessibility of water during prolonged power outages.

"We found over the years if we get an unscheduled power outage, our chlorination system shuts down. And when that happens, sometimes it doesn't kick in automatically," he said.

But to further improve the water quality for residents, Mr. Acreman said council is in the final phase of tenders, which entails moving the intake pipe to a larger pond.

By relocating the intake pipe, Mr. Acreman said it will decrease the size of their watershed area, and all impurities making its way into the water supply by means of runoff will be eliminated.

"It's going to be a big difference," said the mayor.

The long-term plan for council is to install a gravity flow system, said the mayor.

He said that project will minimize expenditures, unlike the system currently in place.

"We're spending $30,000 a year just to pay for the light bill," he said. "It would be a much better system. Minimal maintenance and much better water pressure."