SASKATOON – Treated dugout water can be as good as urban water, according to the palates of those who took taste tests at the Saskatoon Fall Fair and Mexabition.
Of 178 people who participated, many couldn’t tell the difference between the samples of treated rural water and city tap water.
The tests showed 23 percent of people enjoyed the flavor of the dugout water best when compared to Saskatoon tap water, treated Saskatoon tap water and Regina tap water. Thirty seven percent placed Saskatoon water as number one, with 21 percent preferring Regina’s water.
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Least favorite not used
The least favorite was softened and reverse osmosis treated Saskatoon tap water. About 19 percent picked that sample, which was created specifically for the taste test.
A lack of chlorine taste in Saskatoon’s tap water and in the dugout water was an important factor noted in their favor. Although the regular Saskatoon water is treated with chlorine, the odor is hardly noticeable.
Twenty-three percent of those tested said they disliked any chlorine flavor and said it was noticeable in the Regina samples.
The tests were carried out in a joint project of the Saskatchewan Research Council, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration and Sask Water. The group has operated a joint water testing project for the past year testing surface water at various points in the Nokomis, Sask., area.
“We are trying to get the message out to farmers that dugout water can be safe and of high quality if it is treated properly,” said Darrell Corkal, of PFRA.
Method of treatment
The rural water sample used in the test was treated with a rapid sand, gravity sand, and biological activated carbon filters. It was then stored and passed through a reverse osmosis filtration system. The system costs about $7,000.
“City water is treated in state-of-the-art treatment plants by a team of skilled people and reproducing the same water quality on the farm can be quite a challenge,” said Corkal.
Keith Sabine, of Neidpath, Sask., asked how he could treat his water to taste better. He said he can’t use his dugout water for drinking and is considering drilling a deep well.
“You can drill a deep well and it may cost you as much as a full water treatment system for your dugout and you may not hit any water. Then again your dugout might run dry too,” Corkal said.
