Duane Hicks
The town’s water treatment plant got a nearly perfect score after a Ministry of the Environment inspection late last year.
The town scored 97 percent on its MoE 2015/16 drinking water inspection report after an announced detailed inspection, which was conducted Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
Mayor Roy Avis applauded the high score during last night’s regular council meeting.
“You see how much care and concern our staff does have for the drinking water people get in our community,” he remarked.
“It’s remarkable we got that kind of a score, and I commend everybody for doing that,” echoed Coun. Ken Perry.
In a written report from Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown, he noted two non-compliance issues were found during the inspection.
The first issue was linked to properly recording information in the logbooks at the water treatment plant.
The other was in regards to the disinfecting procedure utilized when repairs to parts of the water distribution system were not in accordance with the town’s drinking water works Permit #224-201 Schedule B.
In layperson’s terms, this means the water distribution operators were not recording in the logbook that the disinfection process was in accordance with AWWA C651 (Standard for Disinfecting Water Mains) or an equivalent procedure.
“It should be clearly noted that the two non-compliance issues are housekeeping in nature, and that there was a multi-barrier of protection system utilized throughout the year in order to ensure that safe drinking water was produced and delivered to all water customers connected to the town’s drinking water system,” Brown wrote.
“For example, weekly microbiological water quality sampling and testing was completed with no adverse results throughout the year,” he noted.
“Also, free available chlorine residuals were maintained throughout the water distribution system within normal operating limits.”
Council acknowledged the staff of the drinking water system for all their effort and hard work to ensure all consumers connected to the town’s water system receive outstanding water.
They include Environmental and Facilities Superintendent Doug Herr, Overall Operator in Charge Randy White, Senior Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Operator Brad Webb, WTP operator Paul Lemesurier, Water Distribution System Operator Travis George, Water Distribution System Operator Greg Wiedenhoeft, and Water Distribution System Operator-in-Training (OIT) Jay Bruyere.
Also last night, council:
•heard a semi-annual report from Fire Chief Frank Sheppard;
•heard a presentation from local resident Merv Ahrens regarding concerns about last year’s King’s Highway construction, and his recommendations for when the town undertakes a similar project in the future;
•referred a letter from John DeGagne (DeGagne Construction), re: commercial lots on Fifth Street, to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a letter from Jordan Byzewski, re: septic system for property on Eighth Street, to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a letter from Lori Byerley and Mary Wrigley from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, re: dialysis transportation, to the Community Services executive committee for its recommendation;
•agreed to proclaim March as “Red Cross Month” in Fort Frances;
•approved a break-open ticket licence application for the La Verendrye Hospital Auxiliary from March 7, 2016-March 7, 2017;
•approved a break-open ticket licence application for the Rainycrest Auxiliary from March 7, 2016-Feb. 28, 2017;
•passed a bylaw to authorize the sale of certain municipal lands to Syncor Contracting Ltd. for the development of townhomes on Front Street; and
•approved that Coun. Wendy Brunetta be appointed to the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association board as a representative of the Rainy River District Municipal Association.
