The Town of Truro Engineering and Public Works Department repairs and maintains all of the water meters within the Town.
Water Treatment Plant
Drinking water becomes a significant concern in our world, and safety and sustainability are among the two most important issues.
The Victoria Park Water Treatment Plant is responsible for delivering safe drinking water to the Town of Truro, and its subsidiaries, now and far into the future. We evaluate this through ample sampling regimes conducted daily, weekly and quarterly throughout our distribution system.
The Victoria Park Water Treatment Plant achieves these goals by keeping abreast of newly implemented drinking water regulations and technological developments associated with drinking water supplies and treatment methods. We also maintain continued education for staff in the field of drinking water which allows us to meet current and future federal and provincial drinking water mandates.
Historical Development
In 1875, the Town of Truro purchased a water supply system that was owned by the Intercolonial Railway. The supply system was an impoundment of Lepper Brook, located approximately 1500 m from the existing dam. In 1883, the wooden Tremaine dam was built approximately 750 m from the existing dam.
In 1898, the original impoundment was replaced by a facility that was built at the existing site. This raised the water level to 83.3 m. In 1940, the dam was raised, and it increased the water level to 88.3m. Wells were drilled in 1948 and again in the 1970s to supplement the water supply capacity.
In the early 1980s, it was discovered that some of the wells were contaminated by salt and dry cleaning fluid. An investigation in 1986 recommended that the water supply system be upgraded. Construction of a water treatment plant started in 1989. The Water Treatment Plant was completed in 1991, and an expansion of the Lepper Brook dam and the construction of a new pump house was completed in 1992. The new dam raised the full operating level of the reservoir to 97.5m.
Lepper Brook Watershed
In the mid-1980s, a long and detailed process began to develop a water resource management plan for the Town of Truro. It was apparent that a reliable water source was needed as the Town's population grew. The Lepper Brook watershed is one of the best municipal water supplies in Nova Scotia, with an average yield of 3.65 million gallons per day. Located in the southeastern portion of the community, the watershed is protected on all sides by development restrictions. In addition, the Town has introduced a new dam, pumping station, and modern water treatment facility. All treated water meets the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines established by Health and Welfare Canada. At present, the Water Management Program is operating near 50% capacity with substantial room for growth.
The Town follows a four-step colour precipitation process for water treatment. By creating a chemical environment in the water, unwanted materials and organics separate as a precipitate. The disinfection of bacteria and other microbes with chlorine is then accomplished. The resulting water is clear but too acidic for human consumption, so Caustic Soda is added as the last step to reduce the acidity of the water to consumption levels.
Contact:
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your meter or need to have your water shut off, please contact the Engineering and Public Works Department at (902) 895-4243.
For all billing and consumption inquiries contact Corporate Service at (902) 895-8011
For water quality questions contact the Water Treatment Plant at (902) 893-8982.
