Keeping our Water Supply Safe
Did you know…
- One drop of oil can render up to 25 litres of water unfit for drinking.
- The addition of chlorine to our drinking water has greatly reduced the risk of waterborne diseases.
We are very fortunate to have a high quality, plentiful groundwater supply here in Fredericton - and we want to keep it that way!
The staff in the Water and Sewer Department are consistently working hard to ensure that the quality of potable water here in the city is the best it can be - and arguably, it's the best in Eastern Canada!
The municipal water supply is obtained from wells in Wilmot Park and treated at the William L. Barret Water Treatment Plant on Smythe Street. Beginning later this year, the Waterloo Row (F. John Bliss) Water Treatment Plant will open, and be used to treat water from the Queen Square aquifers.
Once water from the wells has been treated at the Water Treatment Plant to remove the manganese, it proceeds into our distribution system. With over 400 km of water mains, water travels from the Smythe Street plant to properties all across the City. There are 15 booster stations and 13 reservoir sites with a total storage capacity of 57 million litres. Due to the surrounding landscape, much of our water has to be pumped up hill to reach properties high above the St John River Valley. This pumping uses energy and by individuals and businesses reducing their water demand, we reduce the amount of energy used by the Water and Sewer Utility.
The Utility maintains a chlorine residual in the distribution system water which helps protect the safety of our drinking water for our customers.
For more information about the City's Water Utility, visit their website.
To read more interesting information about water protection and safety, click on the links below:
Waterloo Row (F. John Bliss) Water Treatment Plant
City of Fredericton Wellfield Protection
Health Canada - Drinking Water
Canadian Water and Wastewater Association
Atlantic Canada Water Works Association
American Water Works Association
