Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Tel: 250-245-6400 Fax: 250-245-6411 Email: info@ladysmith.ca
Water is a precious resource for everyone and we want to limit its unnecessary waste. In the light of climate change, and as summers are getting warmer and drought periods are more frequent, it is important to create good habits now for a sustainable future.
The watershed provides water to the Town of Ladysmith, Stz’uminus First Nation, and the Diamond Improvement District. It is made up of two main lakes. Holland Lake, which is the primary water source for the Town of Ladysmith, and Stocking Lake, a secondary source.
This virtual video tour of the watershed walks you through the journey of your water from rainfall and snowmelt to your tap and includes a tour of the Water Filtration Plant.
Once water has made its way to the filtration facility, it goes through a three-step process.
Primary treatment uses a DAF (dissolved air flotation) system which removes dissolved organic and suspended matter from the water.
Secondary treatment is ultrafiltration which uses membranes with pore sizes in the range of 0.02 - 0.05 microns. These membranes create a high quality of water through their removal of bacteria, viruses, colloids, and silt.
As the final step in the treatment process, chlorine is added to kill any pathogens. The small amount of chlorine residuals that stay in the water kill any other contaminants that would have entered the water after leaving the plant, ensuring the water is safe to drink.
Water is then stored in the Arbutus Reservoir until it reaches your tap.
Our water is limited source. With Holland Lake being replenished only by rainfall from roughly June to November, typically the driest months, we are draining our resource with barely any way to refill it until the wetter season.
Climate change is increasing the risk of drought and fires. We must protect our watershed in order to ensure there is enough water to meet our needs and keep our community safe.
For information on water conservation visit: https://www.ladysmith.ca/sustainability-green-living/water-conservation
This flyover tour gives you an insight into the intricacies of the municipal water supply and shows you how water ends up in your tap. If you are curious about the way our water system works, and what happens after you use it, you can check out our Virtual Watershed Tour here, featuring Holland and Stocking Lake and other essential aspects of the municipal water supply system. Flyover Virtual Watershed Tour