Water Services

The Town of Vermilion’s potable water is supplied from the Alberta Central East Water Corporation (ACE). The corporation is comprised of twelve municipalities who have a collective interest in providing a reliable and secure supply of potable water to their residents.

The ACE water is drawn from the North Saskatchewan River and treated by EPCOR Utilities Inc. before it is distributed to the Capital Region Vegreville Corridor Water Services Commission. The treated water is then distributed to the twelve municipalities through 350 kilometers of pipeline. The ACE water is fed into each municipality through a trickle feed system and then redistributed to the homes and businesses through the municipalities pressurised system.

The Town of Vermilion has two reservoirs with 4,275,000 litres of treated water storage capacity.

Water moves through the main lines at a very slow rate, which allows sediment and mineral deposits to build up in the line. Every spring and fall the water lines are flushed to clear the sediment and mineral buildup. The lines are flushed during business hours to minimize disruption to your service. During the flushing process residents and businesses throughout Town may experience a drop in water pressure or some discoloration in the water if the hydrant in the area is opened. This discoloration or cloudy water is a result of air in the lines; it is safe to drink and should clear up by allowing water to run for a short period of time.

For the most up-to-date water quality reports, please visit the EPCOR website.

The water pressure flowing through the town main water lines is a constant and consistent rate of 355 kpa (51 psi). The service line that connects your home to the main is usually a copper or pvc pipe. There are two valves that control the water flow into your home; a curb stop valve located outside of the home (usually in your lawn) and a shut-off valve located inside the home before the meter.

Blue or green stains are caused by copper in the water. Copper pipe and fixtures slowly corrode over time releasing the copper into your water. Repair all leaking taps to stop constant dripping on surfaces which can make staining worse. The water may also have a metallic taste. If you are concerned about the blue or green stains caused by your copper fixtures, please consult with your local plumber to address your concerns.

Sometimes the onset of discoloured water can be sudden and limited to a street or area. There may have been some activity in your area that may have changed the rate of flow or direction of flow in the water main. This could be the operation of a major valve or the flushing of a fire hydrant or a burst water main.

Water moves through the lines at a very slow rate, which allows sediment and mineral deposits to build up in the line, a change in the rate of flow can stir up these deposits causing a discolouration in your water.

To flush discoloured water from your lines, run at least two taps for several minutes, flush the toilet a couple of times, or turn on your garden irrigation system. It is recommended not to use hot water if the cold water is discoloured, as this will fill your hot water system with discoloured water.

If you are washing clothes at the time, it is best to stop the cycle with the machine full and wait until clean water is available to finish. Emptying the machine and allowing it to go into a spin cycle can cause permanent staining. Add a stain remover or dishwashing detergent to assist with removing stains that may be present.

If there has been no activity in your area and you are experiencing discoloured water in your home it could be from the internal plumbing system in your home. Older homes built in 1970 or earlier, may have galvanised iron pipes in their plumbing systems which may be starting to rust. This can cause drinking water to be brownish in colour and contain visible particles. The discoloured water would most noticeable first thing in the morning when there has been no water used overnight, or if the house has been left vacant for a while. It can also occur at seldom-used taps. The water should run clear after flushing the tap for a couple of minutes.

If this problem occurs in conjunction with a noticeable reduction in water pressure, the pipes may need to be replaced. To check if there is corroded galvanised pipe in your plumbing system, compare water samples from a tap near the water meter and from a tap further away in the house or in the backyard. If the water from the tap near the meter is of noticeably better quality than that from the tap further away, this indicates there is corroded galvanised iron pipe in the plumbing system.

Corrosion is accelerated in hot water systems. If the cold water is clear and the hot water is brownish in colour or contains noticeable particles your hot water tank could be corroded. Flushing the hot water system may help to clear out the sediment buildup in the bottom of the tank. Contact your local plumber for assistance.

Chlorine and/or Chloramines are added to the water supply to protect drinking water from harmful organisms and pathogens. A minimum chlorine residual of 0.2 mg/L is needed to inactivate the bacteria and protect water from recontamination during storage. Residents sensitive to chlorine odour or taste are advised to collect water into a clean container and let it sit overnight for future drinking or cooking purposes. Adding a few drops of lemon juice or a slice of lemon can also help improve the taste.

Cloudy drinking water is usually caused by air bubbles in the water. Air can get into water simply from filling of a glass too quickly or some taps are also fitted with aerators that introduce air into the water stream to reduce splashing and to provide a uniform flow. Water coming from hot water systems can also be aerated and appear cloudy.

If air is sputtering from the tap, it could be from recent repair work on the water line in your area. Air becomes trapped in the pipe when it is refilled with water. Let the water run for a few minutes until it is flowing at a uniform rate again.

If you notice cloudy water, fill a clean, clear glass with cold water and let it sit on the counter. If the water starts to clear at the bottom of the glass then there are air bubbles in the water, and it is safe to drink.

Other causes of cloudy water could be mild corrosion of the copper pipes in your home. If the water in the glass does not start to clear at the bottom, please contact your local plumber to address the problem.