Better drinking water is on tap for the Energy City, as a new project involving the installation of an intake in Rafferty Dam, and a pipeline from that to the Water Treatment Plant is in the works.

"The main target here is to lower the Trihalomethanes," explained Water Treatment Plant Manager Kevin Sutter.

"These are components that are formed when chlorine reacts with organics in the water. We were looking for another source of water that has less carbon in the raw supply so it forms less of these THM. We discovered that Rafferty is not only lower in carbon, but much lower in the dissolved minerals that are also a nuisance problem for the people who are utilizing the water. "

He added that Rafferty water, unlike Boundary Dam, would not require the use of softeners.

"Our water meets all regulations set out by the water security agency, that is, everything except for Trihalomethanes. Right now, the limit that we are required to stay under is 100 parts per billion, and last year we were over that in two out of the four samples that we sent in. The regulations state that we must under 100 when all samples are averaged over the year, and our's was 106 parts per billion, so we are slightly over the limit."

He added that, historically, Estevan's water has been fairly hard because of a high calcium and magnesium content. While this can be healthy to drink, it makes other applications, such as washing clothes, more difficult.

Sutter also noted that the THM levels aren't too concerning.

"Trihalomethanes have shown that, over a long period of time, they could become carcinogenic, but they're not toxic in any way. However, it is concerning enough that the city is willing to invest in a new water supply and ensuring that we meet all the regulations that are dictated to us."

In addition, another project on the go at the Water Treatment Plant aims at improving the surrounding environment.

"We are putting in a facility that will remove the residuals from the treatment process. When we remove suspended matter from raw water, we have to take that stuff and put it somewhere. Right now we dispose of it back into the river, however, this new facility will de-water that as a solid, and we will then remove it and landfill it."

"That way we are not re-introducing that back into the watershed," he expressed.