Lake Water Treatment:
A treatment plant collects raw water from lake ontario via intake pipes. It first travels through several screens to remove debris, pre-chlorination stage begins where chlorine is added to kill off all microorganisms. Alum is added to clump together small particles. The clumps then drop out of the pre chlorinated water after it is brought into a settling basin. The water then goes through layers of fine sand, gravel, and carbon(activated carbon). These are used to remove any finer remaining clumps of particles,silt, and algae. This water then goes into storage where safe levels of chlorine are added to kill any remaining harmful micro-organisms, excess chlorine is removed with sulfur dioxide. Finally, ammonia is added to combine with the chlorine which remains to stabilize it and keep the water safe. It is regularly tested before being transferred to reservoirs and pumping stations, where it then goes into our schools and homes for us to use. (‘How is Lake Water Turned Into Drinking Water?’, n.d)
(‘How is Lake Water Turned Into Drinking Water?’, n.d)
Wastewater Treatment:
Wastewater is the water that goes down our sinks and drains after we use them (e.g dishwashing, washing machine, excreting waste, etc. I starts off by being sent through bar screens which remove large debris like bottles, branches, while allowing gravel, sand, and other heavier materials to settle to the bottom of a tank. This is then brought to a primary settling tank where it is held for a couple of hours to allow particles to settle to the bottom of the basin. Oxygen is provided for microorganisms to grow, afterward eating organics in the water. This mixture is then sent to something called a clarifier, which is a basin where the solids are allowed to settle to the bottom. Finally, chlorine is added to kill off pathogens before being cycled back into lake ontario. All the waste from the previous basins and tanks, such as the gravel and solids from the purifier, are sent to the digester where they have their organic material turned to methane via micro-organisms. Any remaining biosolids can now be sent to landfill, incinerated, or be turn back into fertilizer.
(‘Where Does Water From The Toilet Go?’, n.d)
Water Treatment Plant:
R. L. Clark Water Treatment Plant is the closest provider for North York. One of four water treatment plants, it takes raw water from Lake Ontario, then cleans, disinfects and converts it into safe drinking water for the City. It is located at the foot of 23rd Street in south Etobicoke in an area known as Long Branch. (“R. L. Clark Water Treatment Plant – Water Treatment – Drinking Water | City of Toronto”, 2014)
(“R. L. Clark Water Treatment Plant – Water Treatment – Drinking Water | City of Toronto”, 2014)
Point and non-point source pollution:
Some examples of non-point sources are from urband development in the form of stormwater run-off, agricultural use in the form of pesticide run-off, and from forest land use causing soil erotion. Some examples of point source pollution is an oil refinery wastewater discharge outlet and combined sewer outlets.
(“State Government of Victoria”, 2012)
Whats in my water 