Water Quality

The Water Quality Department is headed up by Ryan Federau, a 17 year veteran of the Clearbrook Waterworks system. Ryan is an EOCP Level 2 Water Distribution System Operator, holding multiple certificates in Chlorine Handling, Disinfection, and other Water Quality disciplines. All of our operators are EOCP certified, and demonstrate a good working knowledge of water quality, sampling, and general sanitary operational practices.

In order to ensure the continued award-winning quality of our drinking water, we work closely with Fraser Health Authority and the BC Center for Disease Control, as well as maintaining an open line of communication with our Drinking Water Officer. There are multiple programs we have developed in tandem with our Drinking Water Officer in order to better monitor quality conditions at source, within the distribution system, and in our water storage facilities.

The water sampling program consists of drawing multiple samples from strategically selected sites within the system, and sending them the BCCDC lab in order to gather a broad picture of overall water quality throughout the entire system. These samples are taken weekly, and tested for both Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) and total coliforms. To supplement this sampling, we perform our own in-house testing for the same parameters at different locations later in the week, and also test for Heterotrophic Anaerobic Bacteria (a harmless “background” bacteria) on a rotating basis, in order to monitor for changes in water quality. Any time work is performed on the system (ie. watermain breaks/repairs, and newly installed watermains) additional sampling is done to ensure correct sanitary procedures were undertaken. It is important to note that no work is permitted on the Clearbrook Waterworks system by a 3rd party without direct supervision of certified Clearbrook Waterworks System Operators.

On top of the weekly sampling, and the extracurricular work sampling, there is a full spectrum analysis of source and storage facilities performed semi-annually which tests for lead, arsenic, iron, hardness, electrical conductivity, and others. These are available for purview on our website. Production wells are also tested semi-annually utilizing the BART (Bacterial Aggressivity Reaction Test). These tests tell us how aggressive the various native bacteria (iron related bacteria, sulfate reducing bacteria, heterotrophic anaerobic bacteria, and slime forming bacteria) in the wells are, and helps to inform our preventative maintenance programs on the wells.

Our source wells and storage reservoirs are all monitored for the aforementioned parameters, as well as temperature and pH in real time. This data is compiled into a database in order to assess seasonal, as well as long term trending, which allows us to more accurately find anomalies that stray from established baseline data.

CWD system operators flush the distribution system twice a year, usually a spring and fall flushing program, utilizing fire hydrants and endpoint blowoffs. This flushing serves to remove sediment and organic buildup that accumulates in distribution pipes over time. Our production wells are on a rotational 5 year rehabilitation schedule which includes descaling of the well screens, removal of sediment from the bottom of the well, and a camera inspection to assess the condition of the well both before and after the work. Drinking water storage reservoirs undergo an inspection and/or a cleaning every 3 years depending on assessed conditions.

Clearbrook Waterworks has won the title of “Best Municipal Water” in the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting contest a total of 7 times, and although we did not enter in 2024 (to give someone else a chance at winning) we plan to enter (and win) in 2025.