Water treatment is a process that alters the chemical and/or physical properties of source water so that it can be used for a specific purpose. Water is treated before it is used for drinking water, industrial processes, irrigation, water recreation, or before being safely returned to the environment. Water treatment plants are facilities that remove harmful or undesirable substances from the source water, producing water that is fit for its specific purpose.
Federal and provincial health-related standards and guidelines outline the requirements for water that is delivered to your home. All potable water in Alberta must meet the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, published by Health Canada. These guidelines can be found here.
Water treatment plants remove contaminants from source water (e.g., the Bow River) through the addition of certain substances for disinfection and flocculation (settling).
Disinfection may be achieved using chlorine, ultraviolet light, chlorine dioxide, or ozone. Disinfection is required at drinking water facilities to ensure a required level of pathogen reduction is achieved. See the fact sheet on Microorganisms.
The Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant is a pre-treatment facility that uses a process known as “flocculation” to capture and remove silt, debris and micro-organisms from the raw water supply. Chlorine is added to the clarified water, which then rests for enough time to disinfect the drinking water by killing microorganisms and viruses that can cause disease. The final filtration step removes any remaining silt, debris and microorganisms from the water with a number of large filtration beds made of crushed coal and crushed sand.
Protecting upstream ecosystems is very important in maintaining good source water quality. Good source water quality means fewer substances (e.g., chlorine) are needed to make the water safe. This strategy is called “source water protection.” Source water protection initiatives and regulations are implemented at provincial, municipal, and local levels.
City of Calgary. (2017). Water taste, odour, and appearance. Retrieved from: http://www.calgary.ca/UEP/Water/Pages/Drinking-water/Water-quality/Water-Taste-Odour-Appearance.aspx
Reid, D. (2012, April). Standards for Municipal Waterworks (Part 1 of 5). Retrieved from: http://aep.alberta.ca/water/programs-and-services/drinking-water/legislation/documents/Part1-StandardsMunicipalWaterworks-2012.pdf
Alberta Environment and Parks (2016, Aug. 18). Groundwater. Retrieved from: http://aep.alberta.ca/water/programs-and-services/groundwater/default.aspx
Alberta Environment and Parks (2016, July 21). Drinking water. Retrieved from: http://aep.alberta.ca/water/programs-and-services/drinking-water/default.aspx
Battle River Watershed Alliance. (2014, September). Watershed Management Plan: Water Quality Component, Source Water Protection: Policy Advice. Retrieved from: http://aep.alberta.ca/water/programs-and-services/water-for-life/partnerships/watershed-planning-and-advisory-councils/documents/BattleRiverSourceWaterProtection-Sep2014.pdf
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Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.
Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market. With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry.
Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector.
He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency.
Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field.
Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation. As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.
