How your drinking water is made safe
Every drop of water that flows from your tap in Wrenford starts its journey in the Tamsin River. Before it reaches your home, it goes through a carefully controlled treatment process at the Tamsin River Water Treatment Plant. The plant is not open to the public, but we want you to know exactly what happens to keep your water safe.
Step one: screening and intake
Large debris like leaves, sticks, and fish are caught by screens before the water enters the treatment system. This protects the pumps and pipes from damage and ensures the process runs smoothly.
Step two: coagulation and flocculation
Chemicals are added to the water to make tiny particles stick together. These particles form clumps called "floc". The floc is heavier than water, so it will sink later in the process.
Step three: sedimentation
The water moves slowly through large tanks. The heavy floc settles to the bottom, leaving the clearer water on top. This step removes a large amount of dirt and organic matter before the water moves forward.
Step four: filtration
The water passes through filters made of sand, gravel, and charcoal. These filters catch any remaining small particles, bacteria, and viruses that slipped through earlier stages.
Step five: disinfection
A small, safe amount of chlorine is added to kill any remaining germs. This keeps the water safe as it travels through the pipes to your neighbourhood.
Step six: storage and distribution
Treated water is stored in covered tanks before being pumped into the city's underground pipe network. We test the water constantly to make sure it meets all provincial standards before it reaches your kitchen.
How we monitor water quality
We test your drinking water more than 170,000 times every year. These tests check for bacteria, chemicals, and metals like lead. The results are published in the Water quality reports and monitoring page so you can review them at any time.
If you live in an older home with a lead service line, we offer a free Tap Water Sampling Program from May to September. You can also apply for a rebate to install a certified water filter. Learn more on the Lead pipes and your water service page.
What you can do to help
Keeping the water clean starts at home. You can reduce the amount of water sent to the treatment plant by using the Water conservation and efficiency toolkit and following our Water conservation tips and resources. Every litre you save means less energy is used to treat and pump water, which lowers costs and protects the environment.
If you have questions about the treatment process or water quality, email the Water Operations team at [email protected] or call 519-555-0100.