Things are going swimmingly with the public water system in Stony Mountain.
The water system provides potable drinking water to about 1,610 residents. According to the 2024 water system report, the treated water meets all the health and esthetic objectives set out in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
Three wells, drilled in 1991, draw groundwater from a confined aquifer.
“As water flows through the ground, it dissolves metals and minerals and comes in contact with iron, manganese, calcium carbonate (hardness causing mineral),” states the report. “These do not pose any health risk; they are known as esthetic water quality parameters.”
At the water treatment plant, a metering pump adds chlorine for disinfection as well as a corrosion inhibitor before the water enters the distribution system.
From there, a network of PVC piping spans about 55 kilometres, including a rural line of 74 customers, two duty pumps and a fire pump controlled by a pressure switch. The system provides fire protection to Stony Mountain residents and the industrial park with 110 fire hydrants and seven flush hydrants. In total, water is supplied to about 703 homes and businesses.
The report indicates that the Stony Mountain public water system met the bacteriological water quality standards in 2024 and there were no non-compliance incidents. There was one boil water advisory in August 2024 due to a loss of water pressure in a portion of the distribution system.
“For 2024, the Stony Mountain Public Water System has met all regulatory requirements regarding monitoring and reporting disinfection residuals leaving the water plant and in the distribution system,” states the report.
Utility rates haven’t changed since 2019, and a rate study was submitted to the Public Utilities Board in 2024.
Major expenses in 2024 included $3.2 million for a new residential lift station and new commercial lift station, as well as a 450-metre force main. So far in 2025, major expenses ring in at $683,469. The total project estimate is $6,250,750.
Looking ahead, expenses for future system improvements in 2026 to 2028 could include $5,000 for ongoing operations staff training, $49,000 for feasibility studies for a reservoir and $18 million for a treated water reservoir. These costs are prior to granting opportunities and approvals. The total project costs are not indicative of the RM of Rockwood’s funding responsibilities.
The full 2024 annual water system report is posted on the RM of Rockwood website at www.rockwood.ca.
