Q: We have a hunting camp in central Saskatchewan that is accessible only by all-terain vehicle or boat. In the winter after the ice freezes, we can also travel by vehicle across the lake. For the past three years, we have attempted to have a well drilled at the camp but the ice in one area never gets thick enough to support the weight of a heavy drilling rig. We have no alternative but to get a horizontal boring unit to tap into the lake for our water supply.
Read Also
VIDEO: Green Lightning and Nytro Ag win sustainability innovation award
Nytro Ag Corp and Green Lightning recieved an innovation award at Ag in Motion 2025 for the Green Lightning Nitrogen Machine, which converts atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form.
Though the water is quite good with no contamination, we would like to know the minimum requirements for water treatment to make it safe for human consumption for our clients.
We would have a filtering system for any sediment from the lake and from there a water purification and chlorinating system to treat the water. Do you have any recommendations? During peak operating periods, we have 10-12 people at camp at a time and the system would need to accommodate them.
A: Surface water is easy to purify. However, if chlorine is injected into this type of a water supply, it is likely to produce trihalomethanes.
These are formed when natural organic material, such as decaying vegetation, reacts with chlorine used to treat the water. They can cause health problems if consumed over time.
I suggest you chlorinate the water, followed by a properly sized retention tank, and then an activated, backwashing carbon filter. The carbon filter will remove any trihalomethanes produced.
I also suggest you install a one- micron ceramic filter. It will remove cryptosporidium and giardia cysts in the water. This type of purification equipment will make your water safe for human consumption.
Q: We have a house that uses well water. The well is in a farming area and on a lakefront. It has naturally soft water and has a high sodium content.
We are looking for a filteringsystem to use in the kitchen thatwill provide filtered water for consumption only.
What kind of filtering system would be best for us?
A: I recommend that you chlorinate the water for proper bacteria kill, followed by a retention tank and a multi media filtration system. This system will kill any bacteria and remove iron and manganese .To remove sodium from your water, you can either install a reverse osmosis system or a distillation system for drinking and cooking purpose only.
If you have a specific water problem and would like advice, write to the Water Clinic, attention Philip Stadnyk, 850-47th St. E. Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 0X4, e-mail philip@thewaterclinic.com or phone 800-664-2561. Stadnyk is president of the Water Clinic and a member of the Canadian Water Quality Association. His views do not necessarily reflect those of The Western Producer.
