Shining a new light on safe water

Big improvements are flowing into our community’s water system!

The City of Lethbridge is upgrading the Water Treatment Plant’s ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system. It's an essential step that keeps our drinking water clean and safe. The work may be happening behind the scenes, but the benefits are anything but invisible. They’re long lasting, cost saving and designed with residents in mind.

Back in 2003, our community was ahead of the curve. We were early adopters of UV disinfection, installing a system before today’s industry‑standard testing and safety methods even existed. As Water and Wastewater Engineer, Ted Larson, puts it, “We were pioneers at the time, and now we’re bringing that same forward-thinking approach into the future.”

Two decades later, technology has transformed. Modern systems are smarter, safer and far more efficient. Engineers can now pinpoint the exact UV dose needed to disinfect water. That means we can maintain the same high level of water quality while using far less energy.

Right now, our aging system runs at full power around the clock. Even when water demand dips, the lamps stay at maximum intensity, using more electricity than necessary. The new reactors change that completely. They automatically adjust their brightness based on how much water is flowing through the plant. When demand is low, the lamps dim. When demand rises, they brighten. It’s simple, smart and efficient.

This upgrade is expected to reduce the UV system’s energy use by about 78 per cent, saving the City roughly $120,000 every year. Those savings help keep long-term operating costs in check.

The new reactors also increase the system’s capacity and support the City’s plan to boost the plant’s firm capacity from 150 million litres per day to 180 million. The upgraded UV reactors have already been purchased, and the project is on track to wrap up by the end of the year.

 “This upgrade isn’t just about replacing equipment,” says Larson. “It’s about building a stronger, more efficient future for our water system.”

This UV upgrade is one important piece of a larger plan that includes improvements to clarifiers, pumps, chlorine dosing and filters. Design work for those next steps is already underway.

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