Sydenham Water Treatment Plant

The Sydenham Water Treatment Plant and its associated distribution system are owned by the Township of South Frontenac, with Utilities Kingston acting as the operating authority.

RAW WATER SOURCE

The source of water treated by this plant is Sydenham Lake. The intake is located 128m east of the treatment plant, at approximately 6m of water depth.

SCREENING

Two stationary screens located in the low lift pumping well remove any large debris such as weeds, fish, etc.

LOW LIFT PUMPS

These pumps lift the water from lake level to the main treatment building. There are three submersible pumps each with a capacity of 7.8 l/sec which pump the water into the main building for treatment.

CHEMICAL FEED SYSTEM

Hyperion 1090 (Polyaluminum Chloride) is added to the water as it enters the process building just prior to passing through the in-line mixer. The particles in the water will collide with the alum particles as the water flows in a spiral motion through the mixer, and then join together to form larger particles called floc.

FILTERS

Three pressure filtration tanks containing a ceramic filtration media remove the floc formed from the addition of alum and the particles present in the water. Water flows through the filters into two baffled clean water reservoirs called clear wells.

BACKWASH

Filters are washed to remove the particulates they have collected over the previous 48 hrs. Clean water from the clear well is pumped backwards through the filter, and the filter is agitated by air scouring the filter media to break up any large particles. Effluent water from the backwash process is directed to a backwash storage tank for further settling. The supernatant (the clear water after settling) is directed back to Sydenham Lake and the settled sludge is mechanically removed and sent for further treatment.

CHLORINATION CONTROL SYSTEM

Sodium Hypochlorite is added to the water to provide disinfection and to ensure the safety of the water to the customer�s tap. Three sodium hypochlorite feed systems, each consisting of one duty pump and one standby pump, provide pre-chlorination (before filtration), post-chlorination (after filtration) and trim-chlorination (before entering the distribution system).

CLEAR WELLS

Two baffled clear wells, each with a volume of 115 m3, provide storage of filtered water and allow for a sufficient amount of chlorine contact time with the water to ensure proper disinfection.

HIGH LIFT PUMPS

Three high lift pumps move treated water from the clear wells into the distribution system.

STANDBY EQUIPMENT

A 130 kW standby diesel generator provides electricity to the water plant during power interruptions. The generator and standby equipment is tested regularly to ensure proper operation when required.

ELEVATED TANK

The elevated tank has a storage capacity of 1019 m3 and provides pressure to the distribution system.

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

There are approximately 6363 meters of water mains, and 47 fire hydrants in the system. Once all connections to the distribution system have been completed, the drinking water system will supply water to 274 customer connections.