Back
New search

Town of Virden Water Quality Improvements and Use and Loss Reduction

Type of initiative FCM Green Municipal Fund - Capital Project
Sector Water
Project value$2,860,000
Project Type Capital Project
Sub Sector Drinking Water Quality
Grant amount$500,000
Program type GMF
Municipality Town of Virden, MB
Loan amount$858,000
Status Fully Disbursed
Population 3,118
Project timeline 2007 - 2010
Project number 9863

Description

The Town of Virden will improve its water treatment facilities to exceed the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. The town will also implement several demand-side management strategies to reduce water use. Once the engineering design is final, construction will begin to retrofit the existing treatment facility with high-efficiency reverse osmosis membranes. The use of locally sourced Manitoba limestone for water stabilization will lower the demand for chemicals in the treatment process, reducing the environmental costs associated with their transport and use. The new membranes will exceed water-quality guidelines for levels of arsenic, dissolved solids, organics, iron and turbidity, and their improved efficiency will reduce the amount of water lost in the potable water production process by up to 10 per cent. A suite of demand-side management efforts, including improved leak detection, bylaws enforcing water usage, better landscaping practices and public education programs, will reduce water loss by another eight per cent. The combined measures are estimated to reduce water demand by 540 cubic metres per day.

Project results

Environmental outcomes

  • Reduced energy use
  • Reduced or avoided GHG emissions
  • Reduced water consumption
  • Reduced hazardous residuals from water treatment

Social outcomes

  • Protection/improvement of public human health
  • Improved service delivery and/or level or service
  • Greater civic pride and ownership
  • Improved public education or awareness

Economic outcomes

  • Reduced maintenance costs
  • Increased job creation or retention
  • Local spending/consumption
  • Simplified staff operations

Lessons learned

  • Stakeholder and community engagement
  • Council support/buy-in
  • Data and reporting
  • Resources
  • Technical – Project specific

Applicant

Town of Virden, MB