Chlorine shuts off waterfall
Treated water could be harmful to fish, city says, closes facility until 2010
Sarah McLellan
Edmonton Journal
Saturday, August 01, 2009
People expecting to watch the waterfall cascade off the High Level Bridge this long weekend will be disappointed after the city decided to shut off the pipes to protect fish in the North Saskatchewan River.
The Great Divide Waterfall will be out of commission until 2010 as the city works to dechlorinate its water supply.
The water currently sprayed off the bridge is treated-- just like tap water-- and carries chlorine, which the city says is potentially detrimental to the natural habitats in the river.
"We've become so much more environmentally conscious, and we look at all the different ways that operations affect the environment," said Mary Pat Barry, a spokeswoman for the city. "We are trying to find ways that we can reduce the impact of all our different operations."
The city has collaborated with Epcor and provincial and federal environment officials since 2005 to dechlorinate water that flows into the river. High-volume sources such as water treatment facilities have already been adapted. Water that runs down the thousands of drains in the city is dechlorinated before it flows back into the river.
Now the city is focusing on minor sources, such as the waterfall, which dumps 30 million litres of water into the river each year, adding 0.4 per cent of the chlorinated discharge into the river's composition.
"This might seem small, but it's an important consideration," Barry said.
The city has hired a consultant to determine the options for dechlorinating the water and the cost of the project. The results of the review will be ready by late fall or winter.
"That will help us then develop a plan for future operations of the waterfall into 2010," Barry said.
Although the amount of chlorine in the water isn't a threat to humans, it's potentially harmful to habitats in the river. "We have to make sure that the water that comes through the waterfall is still clean and doesn't carry any bacteria or other types of bugs," Barry said.
The city hasn't conducted a specific study to measure the impact chlorinated water has on the river, but this step is in tune with its commitment to environmentally friendly practices, Barry said, something municipalities all over the world are adopting.
"This is not unique in any way to Edmonton," she said.
The Great Divide Waterfall was built in 1980 to celebrate the province's 75th anniversary.
A hallmark of the summer, the waterfall usually operates about five times during the year, marking long weekends and special events.
While some people may be disappointed that the waterfall will be out of service Sunday night and during Labour Day weekend, Barry believes they will realize this is a necessary action.
"I think that they will see that this is two weekends of operations (which) is a pretty small price to pay for a more environmentally friendly process," she said.
© The Edmonton Journal 2009
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