City Urges Residents to Reduce Water Intake

Residents are asked to reduce their water use due to the high volume of rainwater runoff entering the City of Peterborough Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Due to recent weather conditions stemming from last weekend’s ice storm, the wastewater treatment system is experiencing increased wet weather water volume. This increase in water flow is due to recent heavy rain and ongoing ice melt in the region, with more rain forecasted for this weekend.  

Weather conservation helps alleviate the pressure on the sewage pumping stations and treatment plant according to the City.

Residents can help conserve water by:

• Turning off taps: Don’t leave water running while brushing teeth or washing dishes.

• Shorten showers: Aim for shortened showers instead of baths, and shower in the evening if possible.

• Delay unnecessary laundry: Wait to run washing machines until there is a full load and wash clothes later in the evening.

• Fix leaks: Even small drips can waste significant amounts of water.

• Reuse water wherever possible.

The drinking water system remains unaffected by the ice storm that hit the region last weekend. The quality of the City’s drinking water continues to be safe and maintained without disruption.

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Wastewater Plant Gets Brief Secondary Treatment Bypass Due to High Water Flows; Residents Asked to Reduce Water Intake

Residents are asked to reduce water intake after significantly increased volumes of water entered the City of Peterborough Wastewater Treatment Plant that briefly caused a bypass of the secondary treatment process at the facility early Monday morning.

The Wastewater Treatment Plant fully treated 105,751 cubic metres of sewage on Sunday. Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The extra water came from melting snow and rainfall, according to the City.

The secondary treatment bypass was experienced from about 3:30 a.m. to 3:50 am. Less than 50 cubic metres of partially treated effluent was discharged into the Otonabee River.

The discharge had received primary treatment, which includes full screening, primary treatment and UV disinfection.

The Wastewater Treatment Plant resumed full treatment operations at 3:50 a.m.; however, it continues to monitor a high volume of water flowing through the plant due to current conditions.

Residents are asked to reduce water consumption by taking short showers instead of baths, limiting or delaying loads of laundry and turning off taps while brushing teeth and doing dishes.

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Open House At City Of Peterborough Water Treatment Plant On World Water Day

The Peterborough Utilities Group and Otonabee Conservation are hosting an Open House at the City of Peterborough Water Treatment Plant to celebrate World Water Day, on Tuesday, March 22nd.

The Open House begins at 4 p.m. and will feature tours of the Water Treatment Plant and provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about water management in the region.

Photo by Kevan Light

The theme for 2016 World Water Day is “Water & Jobs”. As Wayne Stiver, Vice-President, Water Utility Services, Peterborough Utilities Group, explains, “With the pending retirement of many professionals in the water and wastewater industries over the next few years, it is imperative to bring young and talented people into this challenging and very rewarding profession. The struggle for safe drinking water in the city of Flint, Michigan reminds us all of the importance quality drinking water plays in the health of our children and our community.”

Meredith Carter, Manager of the Watershed Management Program at Otonabee Conservation, adds, “From source to tap, water management is critical to maintaining good quality drinking water, adequate supplies of water and to sustaining the environmental and economic vitality of the Peterborough region.”

The World Water Day Open House is free for the public to attend. The Water Treatment Plant will open at 4 p.m. and offer tours every 30 minutes until the event wraps up at 6 p.m. A variety of local water related agencies and organizations will feature exhibits about their work.

The Water Treatment Plant is located at 1230 Water Street North, Peterborough (on the grounds of the Riverview Park and Zoo).

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