Starting in the fall of 2023 Lac La Biche County will switch from disinfecting potable water with free chlorine to chloramine.
Currently, the water is being disinfected by free chlorine and will be changed out as part of a larger Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project. The County says chloramine is a more stable disinfectant that will allow the County to transport potable water safely across greater distances throughout the distribution system.
Chloramine has been used to sanitize water in other Albertan communities like Edmonton, Lethbridge, Red Deer, and the City of Brooks and has been approved for use in other municipalities within the province of Alberta by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas.
With the change from free chlorine to chloramines consumers are asked to note the following:
- Water treated with chloramines is safe for drinking, washing, bathing, and other household uses.
- Chloramines must be removed from water before use in kidney dialysis machines. Local health authorities are already aware of this change, and will take necessary steps to ensure the continued safety of all patients. Contact Alberta Health Services for more information.
- Aquarium owners should install a filter to remove chloramine from tank water, due to potential toxicity to some species of fish. A typical granular-activated carbon filter, available at pet stores, will remove chloramine from tank water.
Lac La Biche County has retained experts in the water treatment field to ensure all Provincial standards are met or exceeded.