Water Sewer and Storm Systems

The City of Yorkton maintains two types of water systems, the Water Treatment Plant and the Sewage Treatment Plant. Each system is unique, and serves a distinct purpose.

Water Treatment Plant

Water System Infrastructure

Raw water is drawn from 13 production wells surrounding the City. Each well is located in various aquifers at different depths. We pump water from the wells to our water treatment plant. Aquifers are pockets of renewable and sustainable ground water, in which we monitor closely.

Construction of the water treatment plant was commissioned in 2010 as part of the Logan Green Water Management System, located at 9 Queen Street West.

The Logan Green Water Management System and Water Treatment Plant use settling ponds to handle backwash water used to clean filters. The backwash travels through two ponds where the iron and manganese settles out. From the second pond, water is released into the Logan Green trout pond. View the Logan Green Water Management Drawing for more information.

We use a water tower as part of the treated water delivery infrastructure. The tower was constructed and activated in 1999. The purpose of the water tower is to act as a reservoir, a pressure release and a pressure regulator. Learn how the water tower works by reading the Yorkton Water Tower facts page.

Highway 10 bulk water fill station opened in October of 2012. The bulk station serves residential and commercial customers who utilize large water tanks.

Water Treatment Plant Process

You can view a model of the Yorkton Water Treatment Plant process drawing, and follow the progression of water as it is treated.

Treatment of raw water begins with aeration. Adding oxygen to the water converts the iron into a state that filters can remove. Manganese is more difficult to remove and requires the addition of chlorine. Chlorine also serves as a disinfectant in the water.

To boost the oxidation process, we add potassium permanganate (KMnO4). The water moves through a series of concrete tanks and filters, allowing time for the Chlorine and KMnO4 to react with the iron and manganese. This process takes about two hours.

The water is filtered twice, once to remove larger oxidized particles and a second time to remove the fine particles. The treated water then flows into an 18,000 m3 reservoir and is readily available to supply safe drinking water to the community.

Water Reservoir and Distribution System
  • Queen Street Water Treatment Plant Reservoir 18,000 m3
  • Highway 10 Reservoir 6,800 m3
  • Water Tower Reservoir 1,364 m3
  • 26,164 m3 of treated water storage
  • 155 Km of water mains
  • 6467 customers
  • 7,100 m3 liters use per average day
  • 9,950 m3 liters use peak day

Sewage Treatment Plant

Sewage System Infrastructure

Our Waste Water Treatment Plant opened in 1991. The facility is located east of Highway No. 9, about 2 Km north of the City.

The H. M. Bailey Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) is a semi-automated secondary wastewater treatment facility. The facility uses biological methods to process residential, commercial, and industrial wastewater. The resulting product meets all provincial water quality standards. Read Yorkton's Historic Waste Water Plants to learn about previous waste water treatment facilities.

The wastewater plant uses screening, sewage pumping, grit removal, primary clarification, aeration, final clarification, and sludge digestion. Several buildings and piping systems connect the plant processes. Tunnels connect several buildings allowing for easy maintenance and repairs.

The control room provides computer controlled monitoring of all plant operations and processes. Computer operations provide a 24-hour alerting to plant personnel of problems that develop.

Waste Water Treatment Plant Process

Wastewater flows to the Waste Water Treatment Plant through a series of gravity sewers. Wastewater passes through an automatic raked bar screen to remove large objects. Variable speed pumps lift wastewater up into the plant to allow for gravity movement through the processing areas. The wastewater flows into aerated grit tanks where sand and gravel settle out. The grit gets disposed of at the sanitary landfill after washing and dewatering. The liquids return to the main plant flow.

The flow enters settling tanks for three hours. The large organic particles settle, creating a dense sludge. The sludge moves into the anaerobic digester by pumps for further treatment. Effluent from the primaries flow to the biological treatment stage, also known as “activated sludge” process. Aerobic microorganisms and oxygen purify the effluent, known as the Secondary Treatment Stage. The aerated effluent and the microorganisms consume the impurities for about three hours.

After aeration, effluent known as mixed liquors enters the final clarifiers for about four hours. In the final clarifiers, activated sludge settles to the bottom. The sludge moves from the bottom back into the aeration tanks to maintain the balance microorganisms. The treated effluent flows back into the environment by the receiving waters of the Yorkton Creek.

The Anaerobic digester mixes and heats sludge to 35 degrees Celsius. Conditions in the digester allow for anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion is the breakdown of organic matter by anaerobic microorganisms. After 20 days, the sludge flows into the secondary digester. Liquid from the top returns to the plant and the thickened sludge transfers to storage lagoons. The sludge can be used in composting and farm land application as a fertilizer. Produced methane fuels boilers and provides heat for the digesters and buildings.

Sewage Collection System
  • 134 Km of sewer mains
  • 11,360 m3treated per average day
  • 43,320 m3 liters treated peak instantaneous
  • For more information read the Waste Water Plant Data

DO NOT PUT THESE ITEMS DOWN THE DRAIN

Storm Water Infrastructure

Storm water from spring run-off and summer rains collect in catch basins within the City. Inspections occur each year on sections of the storm sewer system to determine its condition. Repairs to storm water systems occur based on budget allocations.

Storm Collection System
  • 53 Km of storm sewer pipe
  • 1000+ catch basins

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 Water Treatment
 
Is my water safe to drink?

Our waterworks system operates under a permit, which is issued by the Water Security Agency (formerly Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment). Within that permit are strict guidelines that include: testing protocol, calculation and summation of records, sample collection, and water quality objectives. 

We must meet these requirements:

  • Submit weekly - three bacteriological samples for total coliforms. 
  • Submit a General Health and Total Toxicity Test once per year from the distribution system. 
  • Submit a General Chemical Test twice per year.
Why does my water smell like chlorine?

We use chlorine to disinfect the water. The government states that the chlorine residual will not be lower than 0.1 mg/L free chlorine or 0.5 mg/L total chlorine anywhere in the distribution system. To achieve this, we must insure that the water leaving the plant has enough chlorine to obtain these results at the far end of the distribution system. Therefore, at certain times you may notice a strong chlorine odour, especially in the morning or if you are a low water user. If you let your tap run, the odour should dissipate.
Where does my water come from?
There are 16 wells surrounding the City, each of the wells are located in various aquifers and at varying depths.
How does the City treat our water?
The city's water is treated at the water treatment plant located on Queen Street West. The plant process consists of an aeration system, filters and chlorination equipment, all designed to remove iron and manganese from our groundwater sources. 
What is the hardness of our water?
In Canada we express hardness as Total Hardness of Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3. The average Total Hardness of the water is approximately 600 mg/L. The theory is any water excess of "300 mg/L" is considered "very hard".
I have just purchased a water softener and it requires a setting of "Grains per Gallon" of hardness, how do I set it?
When setting your softener you have to convert Total Hardness of CaCO3 to Grains per Gallon, this is accomplished by multiplying the total hardness of the water (which is approximately 600 mg/L) by 0.07016, this roughly equates to 40 grains per gallon. 
When I fill my glass with water it appears cloudy and then dissipates and turns clear?
Most taps consist of a small screen that aerates the water as it passes through it. The cloudiness shown in the glass is actually very small air bubbles, which dissipate after time. 
Why are there deposits in my kettle and in my pots after I boil the water?
The deposits remaining are calcium carbonate, it precipitates out when the water is boiled. The hardness of the water causes this to occur. These deposits can be removed by cleaning with vinegar.
Why is my water brown or discoloured?
If the water is highly coloured, the cause is most likely an extreme increase in water demand, which in turn cause a "flushing" of the distribution lines. This situation can be caused by water main breaks or connections and use of water from hydrants by the fire department, public works department, paving and asphalt companies, construction crews or insurance contractors. 
Is fluoride added to the water?
We do not add fluoride to the water but this is a naturally occurring mineral, which consists of part of our water chemistry. 
Why do we flush the water mains?
The City flushes water mains yearly to remove iron, manganese and other deposits from within the distribution system. 
Why is the water scummy?
This is due to the minerals that are found within our water.
Logan Green Water Management System

Utilizes an innovative, green way to handle backwash water generated from flushing the plant filters. Approximately three million dollars was saved on infrastructure by using the settlement process, rather than diverting the backwash water to the water pollution control plant.

The Logan Green water management system consists of:

  • settling ponds for backwash water treatment;
  • wetlands for advanced treatment and wildlife habitat;
  • storm water management;
  • aquifer recharge;
  • multi-use sports fields; and
  • cycling and walking paths.
Queen Street Water Treatment Plant
  • Yorkton is the largest urban centre in the province that relies solely on ground water.
  • There are 13 wells within a 10 km radius of the city that provide water to the treatment plant.
  • The water treatment plant can produce 22,000,000 litres of water per day.
  • The average person uses 230 litres per day.
  • The Queen Street Water Treatment Plant reservoir has a capacity of 18,000,000 litres.

Drinking Water and Compliance Report

Public reporting on Municipal Waterworks

Is there lead in my drinking water?

There are no lead water mains in City owned infrastructure, and less than 4% of residential and commercial service connections are lead. View the information sheet on lead in the City of Yorkton's drinking water for more information.