Water Distribution

The water distribution system in Camrose consists of approximately 150 km of pipes. These pipes vary in size; from 100 mm (4") to 400 mm (16") in diameter. Water flows through these pipes from our pump stations to all areas of Camrose. There are approximately 5200 service connections to the water distribution system. Service connections are small pipes (19mm to 100mm) which connect homes and buildings to the water pipes.

The City relies on two main pump stations to pump water from the storage reservoirs into the water distribution system. The pump stations maintain adequate and constant pressure in the system. Both stations are constantly monitored and have back up systems so they can continue to operate even if there is a power failure.

The pumping stations must respond to changes in flow instantly in order to maintain constant distribution pressure. A computer continuously monitors system pressure and keeps the pressure constant by speeding up or slowing down the pumps. Flow rates vary from less than 20 litres per second at 3:00 am to more than 300 litres per second during a fire.

City pressure is maintained at approximately 500 kPa (72 psi) at the pump station. The pressure in different areas of the City varies with elevation. There is more pressure in the creek valley and less pressure in the higher areas in southwest Camrose.

The first distribution piping was installed around 1910. The early pipes were cast iron and ductile iron. Over the years these pipes have become increasingly corroded due to a reaction with our soils. In 1980 the City had 120 water breaks due to corroded pipes. In 1982 a replacement program was initiated to remove these pipes and decrease the chance of water main breaks. By 2000, 15 km of the original 16.4 km of pipes had been replaced. The replacement program has been essentially completed, as the few remaining cast iron pipes are still in reasonably good condition, as are the roads that cover them. We will monitor their condition, and replace them prior to upgrading the overlying road surface.

The Duggan Park booster station is a small pumping station, located North of Marler Drive at 68th Street. This station boosts water pressure for the Duggan Park area, which has the highest elevation in Camrose. This allows the residents in Duggan Park to have reasonable water pressures without over pressuring the low areas in Camrose. The Duggan Park booster station also provides pressure to push water through the Bittern Lake supply line to the Village of Bittern Lake. The City of Camrose supplies water to the Village of Bittern Lake under an agreement signed in 1987, and to Camrose County under an agreement signed in 2005 for the servicing of Ervick Junction (just north of the junction of Highways 13 and 21).

Water meters are installed in all buildings connected to the City water system. Water meters are used to measure the volume of water used by the customer. The water rates have two components, a basic charge which is a uniform monthly charge, and a consumption charge that is based on the volume of water used.

The meter is read every two months and the City computer system estimates consumption on the months in between actual readings. See a full description of the water rates and charges.

In new homes or buildings the contractor is required to install the pipes to the City's specifications, so that a meter can be installed. The water meter setting is constructed in accordance with Water Meter Installation Guidelines (Appendix D in the City of Camrose Water Works Policy). The water meter is to be sized to operate in the optimum range in normal flow conditions. The owner of the building or property shall provide the Engineering Department with the calculations confirming that the requisitioned meter is the appropriate size for anticipated flow ranges. When the water meter is requested, the City installs a water meter in the setting provided by the building contractor.

The meter is owned by the City but the property owner is responsible to protect the meter from damage. The meter is sealed by the City when it is installed and it is illegal to tamper with the seal or to draw water from any point upstream of the meter (between the meter and where the water service enters the house).

The customer is responsible for all internal plumbing in the house and must pay for all water that runs through the meter even if there is a leak in the plumbing system. Water meters can help in using water wisely and to detect leaks in your plumbing. To check your own water consumption, property owners can learn to read their own meters.

The diagram shows a typical water meter face. The odometer (a) records water usage in cubic meters, which is what is recorded and used to determine your water bill. The triangle (b) is a low flow indicator and will turn even when very small amounts of water are passing through the meter.

Most residential meters have the low-flow indicator, which is an indicator that rotates even when very low flows are passing through the meter. This indicator can be used to check for leaks in the plumbing system. If all the taps are off and no one has used the toilet for a few minutes the low flow indicator should not be moving. If it is moving, there is water leak somewhere in the building plumbing.

Most of the meters in Camrose read in cubic meters but some meters register in "hundreds of cubic feet" or in imperial gallons. The consumption shown on the utility bill is simply the difference between the meter reading at the beginning of the billing process and the meter reading or estimated meter reading at the end of the billing period. The consumption on the bill is always converted to cubic metres. Each resident can do their part to conserve water and reduce their consumption on their water bill which will put money back into their pocket.

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