The road to replace the existing water treatment system in NW Bay First Nation has been a long one. On October 19, 2022, the road ended with the Grand Opening of a new plant. Those are the words shared with me by Cliff Carriere, P.Eng.
This project has been completed through the perseverance, fortitude, and patience of the NW Bay leadership, membership and staff.
The existing treatment plant was constructed in 1985. The water treatment plant consisted of slow sand filtration, and the water source was from an intake into the Footprint River. On October 19,2022, the Community has been supplied by a new system from Northwest Bay of Rainy Lake.
The new water treatment involves the following works.
- A new gravity fed water well
- A twin train slow sand filtration unit
- Ultra-violet primary disinfection
- A 521 cubic meter treated water reservoir
- Distribution pumps to meet peak hour flow demands for normal consumption
- Control system c/w remote monitoring and control capability
- Propane fired standby generator
- Approx 1800 m of existing water main was upgraded
The chronology of events to get to this event are outlined below.
2006-2007-Two groundwater wells were drilled in 2006-2007, to provide additional raw water, as the Footprint River was not able to supply sufficient volume to meet community demands.
2007-2011-A water supply and treatment feasibility study was completed in 2011. The study found that the existing water system had reached its end of life. Residents were required to reduce consumption . The system is operating at or very close to capacity and is unable to achieve the required credits to provide adequate disinfection, to remain safe for drinking purposes.
The community currently lacks the capability to provide fire protection flows, due to the lack of storage volume and pumping capacity.
2012-2014-A slow sand pilot study was completed, from Nov 2012-October 2013. This was done to demonstrate the slow sand filtration technology would be fully capable of producing filtered water from the new water source. This would meet all Federal and Provincial water quality standard objectives. The final report was issued in February 2014.
2015-2022-The FN and Indigenous Services Canada entered into an agreement to proceed with the design of a new water treatment plant, to meet the 20 year needs of NWBay F.N. A contract of the construction of the works was signed by Naicatchewenin F.N. and Finnway General Contactor Inc. in February 2020. The contractor began to mobilize, when in March 2020 the effects of the Covid pandemic were felt with the imposition of the lockdowns, stay-at-home orders, etc. The F.N. leadership, after seeking the advice of community Elders and membership, decided to proceed with the project. All Covid safety precautions were taken, but construction was further affected by the drought and associated nearby forest fires, the spring flooding of 2022, not to mention the post-pandemic realities related “supply chain issues” which made securing items a new and frustrating process for the contractor.
Piping manifold for new slow sand filter treatment system.
The next generation of NWBay Water Treatment Plant Operators, explores the new Dual-Train slow sand filtration system during a public open house.
One of two high volume vertical turbine pumps at the new Water Treatment Plant. This also provides emergency water capacity for fire protection in the community.
Thompkins Hardware, of Emo, was a great benefit to this project with items on hand and securing items as quickly as possible.
As of September 22, 2022, following the completion of distribution system flushing, disinfection and testing, the new facility has been providing water to NWBay F.N.
