Services

Chlorination

The Town of Gibsons is fortunate to have an excellent source of drinking water from Aquifer 560 that doesn’t require regular chlorination (with the exception of Zone 3). However, certain activities can temporarily increase the risk of bacterial contamination within the pipe network.

In the interest of public health and as recommended by Vancouver Coastal Health, chlorine is added to the water during the following activities:

  • Watermain construction that requires cutting into existing pipes
  • Flushing fire hydrants and mains

Current Status:

Precautionary drinking water chlorination active in Zone 1: (Shown in green on the map).

Start date: March 2025

Anticipated End Date: Spring 2026

When did chlorination start, and when will it end?

Chlorination in Zone 1 began in spring 2025, following watermain work on Winn Road and a subsequent system-wide flushing program.

Chlorination will remain in place until construction on the Skyline Drive watermain upgrade is complete, and the system can be fully flushed and stabilized. Current estimates suggest this may be late spring 2026, though the exact timing depends on construction progress, weather conditions, and required permitting.

How much chlorine is in the water?

The Town is targeting the minimum recommended chlorine residual in Zone 1, approximately 0.4 mg/L, which is at the low end of the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines range of 0.2–2.0 mg/L.

For comparison, Zone 3 (Upper Gibsons) maintains a higher residual of approximately 0.5 mg/L, as required by Vancouver Coastal Health, due to system configuration and operational requirements.

What are the impacts of chlorine?

There are no known negative health impacts from drinking water with the chlorine levels used in the Town’s water system.

Some residents may notice a change in taste or odour. For those sensitive to chlorine, the following options can help:

  • Letting water sit in an open container for up to 24 hours to allow chlorine to dissipate naturally
  • Boiling water for approximately 15 minutes to remove chlorine residual
Why not stop chlorination during a construction pause?

Stopping chlorination during a construction pause and restarting it later increases the risk of bacterial growth in the system, particularly in new, disturbed, or low-flow pipes. Maintaining continuous chlorination is safer, helps prevent bacterial regrowth, reduces the need for repeated flushing, and keeps water quality stable and compliant with health requirements.