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Clinton News-Record, 1985-11-13, Page 19INCORPORATING -THE BLYTH $'4NDARD-THE BAYFIELD BUGLE SECOND SECTION WEDNE ,DAY 9 NOVEMBER 13, 1985 CLINTON HAS Clean water Clinton PUC General Foreman Albert Valkenburg and General basis. According to Mr. Boussey, ofof the 2three wellsgallolocateds obewatr i d the he Manager R.J. (Guss).Boussey +change the graph on a sophisticated PUC building pump g metre which monitors the water output from the wells on'a daily to Clinton and area consumers. Photos and story by Alan Rivett CLINTON - Residents here need not worry about water. There's lots of it and constant testing of the water supply always reveals the same results it's pure. According to Clinton PUC manager R.J. (Guss) Boussey, the three wells located in the northeast edge of town behind the PUC offices are tested on a weekly basis by the Ministry of the Environment in London. The wells are analyzed for total coliforms, human bacteria, and fecal coliforms, a bacteria found in the human feces, all of which have always been absent from the water supply. As a'result of the satisfactory imperial gallons. The PUC, says Mr. Boussey, is bracing for impending problems with the standpipe located near the race track. .A recent engineering study pointed out the standpipe is still operating properly, but it should be replaced, having been in operation since 1909. The standpipe can store 106,000 imperial gallons of water is responsible for keeping the water flowing into the distribution system at a constant rate. Mr. Boussey says they are considering simply replacing the tank or putting in an elevated tank within the next five to six tests, the Clinton wells receive no kind of years, or sooner if required. Instead of treatment. issuing debentures to pay for the proposed . Three samples are taken per week with project, the commission has already set up a one sample from the well being used on the reserve fund of $1,000 a month to be set day of the testing (the wells are alternated aside. Currently, a cost estimate is not each day). The other two samples come . available.. from a commercial user such.as a. school or "We can't expect it to last forever, so the hospital, he said. we're going to replace it before it goes," Also, the wells are tested once a year for said Mr. Boussey. its chemical content." In this analysisMhe The distribution system of the water is, three wells go through 10 different. -tests also a big concern. for the commission. Mr including tests for hardness, alkalinity, iron • Boussey said some of the water mains in content, chloride content, pH balance, town are not large enough to meet future fluorides, nitrates, apparent color, turbidity demands and the majority of mains have and sulphates. These tests also reveal the been replaced in the last few years as part of Clinton wells, all fall into the acceptable street construction. , levels as defined by the .tests. However, "It's an old system, but we are constantly Clinton water has been rated as "very .upgrading it, especially the distribution hard". system as the funds become available," he Mr. Boussey says the only consequenceof said. having hard water is the lime present in the .• As part. of the distribution system• water collects around the pipes and water upgrading, fire hydrants are being added to heaters leaving a scale substance. However, the system so all buildings are within 500 most homes in Clinton are equipped with feet of a hydrant, he said. water softeners. Since the water needs over the past 20 The wells in Clinton are artesian, meaning years have increased significantly because they are drilled beneath the bedrock where of 'modern appliances, a bylaw was created an abundant water supply is found. These concerning water pipes in new homes, he types of deet .wells also serve the water said. The bylaw, adopted in 1967, states new needs of Mitchell, Seaforth and Exeter. Mr. homes in town have to be equipped with Boussey says the wells are between 250 and three-quarter: inch copper pipe instead of 255 feet deep. The• first well was drilled in half inch pipe: The bigger pipe allows. more 1909 with the. other two drilled in ,1924 and water with greater pressure into the home. 1945. Prior to the •bylaw, says Mr. Boussey, Although the wells are old, there,is no sign that the water supply is diminishing. In fact, contractors could cut corners by installing the wells are only pumpingabout a quarter., cheaper half inch pipe which resulted in the capacity to Clinton, Vanastra and area. An commission being deluged with complaints estimated 4,000 population. On any given • about the lack of water pressure from home day, an average of 450,000 gallons of water is owners. 1eBoussey says there are safeguards pumped through the system, he says. All the wells are .equipped with a shaft- built into the system to make sure water is turbine automatic,pumping units. The three always available. In the event of a power wells pump at 460, 650 and 550 imperial failure which could shut down the gallons per minute respectively ,which electrically -run pumps, the PUChaSa back - always insures an adequate water supply, up generator which keeps the water flowing said Mr. Boussey. The pumps and shafts are through., a, power. outage. The generator, checked every 10 years and all the working installed in 1967, is particularly useful in parts are replaced. supplying water to places like the Clinton In addition to the standpipe, the water is Public Hospital and Huronview where a stored in a ground level reservoir located water interruption could- have serious adjacent to .the PUC offices before it is consequences. The generator is also test run discharged into the distribution system. The once a week so it will be ready for an reservoir has a storage capasity of 80,000 emergency situation. The standpipe in Clinton, originally built in 1909, is becoming a concern for the PUC because recent structural reports suggest it should be replaced in the near future. Mr. Boussey, general manager of the PUC, says the standpipe is still operating efficiently but plans are being made in -the form of a emergency fund to deal with replacing the standpipe when the need arises. PUC General Foreman Albert Valkenburg makes his weekly in- spection of the back-up generator in the water plant adjacent the PUC office. In the case of a power failure, the, generator will con- tinue to run the pumps and supply water to the area. Precautions such as this ensure places such as the Clinton Public Hospital and Huronview, where a constant water supply is crucial, won't be af- fected by a power interruption.