BOIL WATER ORDER

February 13, 2025

** The Boil Water Order Has Been Rescinded **

Dear Residents,

I am pleased to inform you that the Boil Water Order has been lifted. The Water treatment plant is operating effectively and has been stable for some time. Truckfills in Falher, Donnelly, Girouxville, Jean Cote and Guy are re-opened for potable use.

The Smoky River Water Commission thanks you for your patience and resilience during the 75 days the Boil Water Order was in effect. I would like to emphasize that none of the treatment issues we experienced since October were due to Operator error. With 50-year-old infrastructure, upgrades and outages are to be expected. Water parameters are constantly changing, and traditional treatment methods sometimes need to be adjusted as well. This can be challenging with old infrastructure and limited space. When changing any part of the treatment system, many pilot tests must be conducted, and approval must be obtained from Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, with strict adherence to protocols and steps.

Dedicated staff of the Smoky River Water Commission have been working every day for over 100 days to ensure public safety despite turbidity challenges. The Water Commission has conducted extra sampling during this period to confirm that the water is free of viruses and pathogens. We are out testing the water everyday, and our staff take their responsibility very seriously. We sign a code of conduct, and it is our job to ensure water safety. As the saying in our industry goes, “No Operator, No Water.” So when you see your local Water Operator, please offer them thanks or appreciation for their dedication and resilience during this very stressful period for Water Professionals.

Please see the attached Notice of Compliance as issued by Alberta Health Services.

Thank you again for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
Smoky River Water Commission

February 4, 2025

**Boil Water Order Remains in Effect**

The new Clarifier is operating effectively, and we have been consistently treating the water within the required standards for several days. However, it will take some time to displace the turbid water that remains in our clearwells and throughout the Smoky River Regional Waterworks System.

Since the Boil Water Order began on November 29, 2024, we have collected numerous bacteriological samples throughout the system. All samples have tested negative for E. coli and Total Coliform. Additionally, tests of our raw water source for cryptosporidium and giardia have all returned zero counts. Despite the turbidity challenges, we have worked diligently to ensure that the water remains free of bacteria and pathogens, and we have maintained disinfection at all times.

To help expedite the process of naturally displacing the turbid water, we encourage water usage at this time. Due to a lack of flush points on certain Smoky River Co-op lines, and the impracticality of flushing in extreme cold temperatures, we are unable to flush certain areas to speed up the process.

We are submitting all test results to Alberta Health Services and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas. Once they are satisfied that we have displaced the turbid water and the Water Plant is stable, the Boil Water Order will be lifted.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Sincerely,
The Smoky River Regional Water Management Commission

January 28, 2025

**Boil Water Order Remains in Effect**

While the new Clarifier has significantly improved water treatment, we are still experiencing some difficulties. The Water Commission is actively collaborating with Alberta Environment, Alberta Health Services, engineers, and equipment suppliers to resolve these issues. Unfortunately, this is a delicate process that will require more time.

We continue to conduct extra bacteriological sampling, and all samples taken to date have been free of E. coli and total coliform. We understand your frustration and want to assure you that the Boil Water Order is in place to ensure your safety. The Water Commission is working diligently to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, while adhering to all necessary protocols to protect public health. This process will likely take a few more weeks.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Sincerely,
The Smoky River Regional Water Management Commission

January 20, 2025

**Boil Water Order Remains in Effect**

The Clarifier replacement was successfully completed and brought online on January 18 at 12:00 p.m., as scheduled.

However, this does not mean the Boil Water Order has been lifted. As mentioned in the previous update, there are still required steps to follow. Once we can demonstrate a consistent trend of compliance and the turbid water in the distribution system has been displaced, we will submit two additional sets of bacteriological samples within a 24-hour period to the provincial lab. Only after these steps are completed and approved by Alberta Health Services will the Boil Water Order be lifted.

We have tested over 100 samples since the Boil Water Order was issued, and all have been negative for E. coli and total coliform. We understand your frustration and want to assure you that the Boil Water Order is in place to ensure your safety. The Water Commission is diligently working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, while adhering to all necessary protocols to protect public health. This process will likely take a few more weeks.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Sincerely,
The Smoky River Regional Water Management Commission

January 10, 2025

The Boil Water Order remains in effect.

The Smoky River Regional Water Management Commission is currently undergoing a clarifier replacement in the water treatment plant located in Falher. This project is currently scheduled to be completed on January 18th, 2025.

It is apparent that the temporary clarifier is not able to treat the water to the standards required. Once we can show a steady trend of being in compliance, we will be required to provide two sets of bacteriological samples (28 samples from the region) within a 24 hour period to the provincial lab in Edmonton. When all samples are proven negative of Ecoli and Total Coliform and the system is back in compliance with our turbidity exceedance, only then will AHS lift the BWO.

Since the BWO started on November 29, 2024, eighty-four bacteriological samples have been taken in the region and all samples have proven to be negative of E-Coli and Total Coliform. Although we have all these passed tests the BWO will remain in effect until the new clarifyer is commissioned and we have met the required steps as issued by AHS.

The Smoky River Regional Water Management Commission thanks you for your ongoing patience and understanding during this upgrade. Please share this information with your neighbors or anyone who does not have internet access.

December 20, 2024

The Boil Water Order remains in effect.

Due to the ongoing difficulties treating the water to the required turbidity with the temporary clarifier, we are expecting that Alberta Health Services will keep us on the Boil Water Order until the new clarifier is commissioned in January. We are continuing to work with external resources such as Alberta Environment, Engineers, and Chemical Experts to try to make this temporary clarifier perform better while the reconstruction of our permanent clarifier is underway.

We are continuing to test at random locations in the distribution system and these samples are sent regularly to the Provincial Lab in Edmonton. So far, all samples have tested negative for e-coli and total coliform. We will continue to do additional testing during the duration of this project to show that the water is free of e-coli, total coliform and other parasites despite the turbidity challenges.

This will be the last update until January unless important information arises regarding the Boil Water Order. As mentioned in our FAQ released on December 6, 2024, there are currently no plans to turn off water distribution to the communities served by the Water Commission; Town of Falher, Village of Girouxville, Village of Donnelly, Hamlet of Jean Cote, Hamlet of Guy, and customers of the Smoky River Water Coop. Truck fills in these communities will remain closed until the Boil Water Order is rescinded.

December 13, 2024

THE BOIL WATER ORDER REMAINS IN EFFECT.

The Smoky River Water Management Commission is currently undergoing a clarifier replacement in the water treatment plant located in Falher. The old components of the clarifier have been disassembled and removed and concrete repairs and prep work is taking place. The concrete is to be repaired and resurfaced and will cure for a few days over the Christmas period. Once the concrete is cured the construction of the new clarifier will begin. This project is currently scheduled to be completed on January 18th, 2025, construction is going well, and the project is progressing as expected.

The temporary clarifier has been connected to the plant and is operational, however we are still experiencing some difficulties treating the water to the required turbidity. The low water temperature combined with the short contact time between the chemical and the water in the temporary clarifier is not able to settle the floc fast enough before it enters the filters. We are continuing to work with external resources such as Alberta Environment, Engineers, and Chemical Experts to try to make this temporary clarifier perform better while the reconstruction of our permanent clarifier is underway.

We are continuing to test at random locations in the distribution system and these samples are sent regularly to the Provincial Lab in Edmonton. So far, all samples have tested negative for e-coli and total coliform. We have sent samples to an independent lab to be tested for cryptosporidium and giardia and the sample was a zero (0) count on cryptosporidium, and a zero (0) count on giardia. This is all great news however the Boil Water Order remains in effect to ensure public safety. We will continue to do additional testing during the duration of this project to show that the water is free of e-coli, total coliform and other parasites despite the turbidity challenges.

Updates will continue to be provided weekly, or as soon as important information is available. As mentioned in our FAQ released on December 6, 2024, there are currently no plans to turn off water distribution to the communities served by the Water Commission; Town of Falher, Village of Girouxville, Village of Donnelly, Hamlet of Jean Cote, Hamlet of Guy, and customers of the Smoky River Water Coop. Truck fills in these communities will remain closed until the Boil Water Order is rescinded.

December 11, 2024

The Boil Water Order is still in effect.
No updates at this time.
A more detailed, weekly update will be provided Friday.
Please look out for each other and share this information with any neighbours.

The Water Commission has shared the attached FAQ, you can read HERE

The Town of Falher will also be trying to spread the word further with posters around Town.
Stay Safe

December 6, 2024

The Smoky River Regional Water Management Commission has made the transition to the temporary clarifier. We are still having issues with getting this temporary portable clarifier to function with the rest of the water plant smoothly. This is a necessary upgrade to our regional 45 year old Water Plant, and this upgrade is a long time coming. Smoky River Regional Water Management Commission have picked this time of year for construction as it is the time of year when the water consumption is at its lowest and it affects the residents the least.

The Boil Water Order was not issued because of an operator error, bacteria, or anything else that was detected in the water. Bacteriologica tests being done continue to be negative for E-coli and total coliform. There is a turbidity contravention and the Boil Water Order is to ensure everyone’s safety.

Sometimes things need to get a little worse before they get better when it comes to repairing/replacing important municipal infrastructure. Please be patient while we work through this period to improve our treatment process. We are trying to rectify this situation as quickly as we can. Look for a weekly update on your municipality’s website. If the update has not changed, keep boiling your water to ensure your safety. We will notify you as soon as this Boil Water Order is lifted.

The Town of Falher and The Smoky River Regional Water Management Commission sincerely thank you for patience, understanding, and resilience during this time. We will get over this and it will be better than it was. Stay Safe Everyone.

November 29, 2024

Effective 8:00 p.m November 29, the Smoky River Regional Water Works System including Falher, Donnelly, Girouxville, Guy, Jean Cote, and the Smoky River Water Co-op (unless supplied by McLennan) is under a BOIL WATER ORDER (BWO) as issued by Alberta Health Services. The Water Treatment Plant is experiencing treatment and mechanical issues that have caused a turbidity exceedance in the filtered water. Our clearwell levels are very low and we will be forced to send water that is above the turbidity limits into the distribution system. The Smoky River Water Commission is working with Alberta Environment and chemical experts, who are doing tests on our water to try and correct this problem as soon as possible. After many tests that have already taken place there is a theory that it might be mechanical failure of the clarifier that is disrupting the mixing and contact time of the chemical with the water in the mixing chamber. We will be connecting to a portable clarifier on December 3rd, and 4th, and hopefully this will be a turning point to getting everyone off of the BWO as soon as possible.

The Smoky River Water Commission has tried everything we can to avoid this and we will be working diligently with external sources to rectify this situation as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and resilience during this period.

Boil Water FAQ

Alberta Health – Using water at home during a boil water advisory

Info Sheets

Child Care Facility Info Sheet
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/wf/eph/wf-eh-water-safely-child-care-bwa.pdf

Food Establishment Info Sheet
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/wf/eph/wf-eh-water-safely-food-establishment-bwa.pdf

How to Use Water Safely in Community based HealthCare Setting Info Sheet
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/wf/eph/wf-eph-using-water-chcs-bwa.pdf

School Facility Info Sheet
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/wf/eph/wf-eh-water-safely-school-bwa.pdf

Long Term Care Facilities, Supportive Living and Home Living Sites Info Sheet
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/wf/eph/wf-eh-water-safely-ltc-bwa.pdf

Personal Service Facility Info Sheet
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/wf/eph/wf-eh-water-safely-ps-boil-water.pdf

Hotel or Motel Info Sheet
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/wf/eph/wf-eh-water-safely-hotel-bwa.pdf