亚洲天堂 Lake will conduct a study that will determine the condition of wells, the quality of the water and how much water will be available two or three decades from now.

This hydrogeological study is a necessary step as part of the manganese treatment project, which requires conducting an overall well and aquifer study before engineered plans and drawings can commence.

鈥淓ssentially everything starts with our wells,鈥� explained director of public works Dale Ross. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at manganese treatment plants, water towers, but we haven鈥檛 looked at where the water is coming from since the 1980s.鈥�

The wells on Gerow Island and the aquifer have not been inspected since their introduction in 1986 and 1990. A report from 1995 suggested there was sand infiltration into one of the well casings.

鈥淭he three wells should all have water level sensors, all of which do not work,鈥� explained Ross. 鈥淣ew sensors will be installed when the pumps are pulled out to be examined.鈥�

鈥淎 bonus for doing this study is that it will determine the available water supply if the village boundaries increase,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great study to do at this point.鈥�

A surplus from the water tower project will be used to pay for the hydrogeological study鈥檚 $90,000 price tag. Earlier this year, the village saw an unexpected surplus in the water tower replacement project that has allowed the municipality to speed up the water treatment project, which would filter the manganese in the village鈥檚 water systems.

Manganese is responsible for the discolouration of tap water sometimes seen in 亚洲天堂 Lake. According to the village, this one of the most frequent complaints received from the public.

The village says the current concentration of manganese in 亚洲天堂 Lake is 鈥渞elatively low,鈥� and that it has no known adverse health effects. However, Ross says this is something that the village needs to address in case the standard for manganese changes in coming years.

While the original plan was to only invest in a pilot study for the manganese treatment project in 2017, the surplus has allowed the village to also invest in a design study this year.

鈥淐ompleting the design phase now will ensure we are completely shovel ready when we apply to the next available grant,鈥� explained Ross.

The final phase of the project, which would involve the installation of the treatment system, could cost the village between $2 and $4 million.