UPDATED Potable Water Notice

James Suffredine • December 19, 2023

December 19, 2023

POTABLE WATER NOTICE

UPDATE

 

Lab results have been returned for water samples that were taken to investigate the earthy/musty taste occurring in the water for the past month.  These results have indicated a presence of geosmin in the water. Geosmin is a harmless, but odorous naturally occurring bacteria. Geosmin is NOT the result of pollution or contamination of our source waters and is not a result of a failure of treatment processes. It occurs through a natural process.


Residents are again assured that the water supply undergoes daily routine monitoring and testing, as mandated by the Government of Alberta, and consistently adheres to all regulatory limits for water quality monitoring.


Frequently Asked Questions:

  • What is geosmin?

    Geosmin is a harmless, naturally occurring compound produced by bacteria in soil and algae found in surface water (lakes, rivers, streams, dams). Geosmin produces an earthy, musty-type odour/taste, like that of overturned rich soils, and is present in foods such as beets, spinach, and mushrooms. Geosmin is NOT the result of pollution or contamination of our source waters and is not a result of a failure of treatment processes. It occurs through a natural process..

  • Why does geosmin occur?

    Recent changes in source water quality, water levels, and through natural processes, including increased pH and organic carbon, combined with warm temperatures can promote algal growth, which can lead to the production of geosmin.

  • Where is the odor and taste coming from?

    All customers In the Town of Magarath and Cardston County that recieve water from the Magrath and District Regional Water Services Commission and Jensen Reservoir  are effected

  • Is the water quality affected?

    While the taste and odour can be unpleasant, geosmin is not harmful. The water remains safe to drink. On-going testing continues to show an absence of harmful bacteria and other pathogens in the water.

  • How long will the taste and odor last?

    It is not possible to predict the onset of an incidence of geosmin, or how long it will last. Geosmin compounds have been shown to remain in lakes and reservoirs for days to months. It is expected the concentration of geosmin will fluctuate during the coming weeks/months, however, we are not able to predict the duration based on historical trends. It is antcipated that both colder temperatures and percipitation would provide a change.

  • Why do we smell it ?

    The human nose is extremely sensitive to geosmin. If you poured a teaspoon of geosmin into the equivalent of 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools, you would still be able to smell it. Heating the water increases the volatility of these compounds, which explains why the smell is more easily detected when you are in the shower or when used for hot beverages.

  • How was geosmin detected?

    The Magrath and District Regional Water Services Commission engaged a private, third party accredited laboratory to provide testing for geosmin and continues to follow a rigourous protocol of regular monitoring of both the raw and treated waters from source waters. On-going testing continues to show an absence of harmful bacteria and other pathogens in the water. The water remains safe to drink.

  • Can it be removed from drinking water?

    Geosmin is not removed by conventional water treatment processes used by the Magrath and District Regional Water Services Commission at the water treatment facility.


    There are several proven treatment technologies for removing geosmin from drinking water including granular or powdered activated carbon; oxidation with ozone or advanced oxidation processes (AOPs); biofiltration; or some combination of each. 


    The source water changes that we have experienced over the past year caused by drought are unprecidented and it remains to be seen if the occurance of geosim in the water supply will reoccur 

  • Does geosmin occur elsewhere?

    Geosmin is common in many jurisdictions across Canada, the United States, and elsewhere in the world. 

By James Suffredine May 8, 2025
NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL 2025 Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll of the Town of Magrath made under the provision of the Municipal Government Act, has been prepared and is now open for inspection at the Town office during business hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Any person who desires to object to the entry of their name upon the said roll or to the assessed value placed upon any property must, within sixty (60) days from the date of this notice, lodge the complaint(s) on an approved Assessment Appeal form with the Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality. An appeal fee of $20.00 must be paid at the time the appeal is made. This appeal fee will be refunded if the assessment is altered by the Assessment Review Board. Assessment Appeal forms may be obtained at the Town Office located at 6 North 1 st St West. Dated this 8th day of May 2025. James Suffredine Chief Administrative Officer 2025 Tax Information Property Assessment Notices for the 2025 tax year were mailed out on May 8 th , 2025. This bill covers the period from January 1 through December 31, 2025. If you are not participating in the Tax Installment Prepayment Plan (TIPP), tax payment is due by June 30. A 12% penalty will be applied to all outstanding taxes on July 2 nd and a 2% per month penalty on all outstanding balances will be applied on the 1 st day of each month thereafter. Sign up for TIPP If you would like an automatic way to pay your property tax, you can sign up for the TIPP program. Participation in TIPP means that you don’t have to worry about the payment deadline or late payment penalties. Your taxes are spread over monthly payments, and the amount is withdrawn from your bank account automatically. Contact the Town Office for more information. About Property Assessments Property assessments in Alberta are governed by the Municipal Government Act. Your Notice of Assessment is based on the physical condition of your property as of December 31 of the previous year as well as the valuation of your property as of July 1 of the previous year. All assessed values are completed within these guidelines to ensure fairness and equity using mass appraisal techniques. The purpose of assessment is not to reflect a single sale price but to assess all properties at typical market value on the same valuation date so that taxation is fairly and uniformly shared. The Town of Magrath has contracted a qualified accredited assessor who performs this function based on provincial legislation and regulations. How Market Value is Determined Market value, as defined in the MGA, 1 (n), means “the amount that a property might be expected to realize if it is sold on the open market by a willing seller to a willing buyer.” Market value assessments are done using mass appraisal techniques, which determine property values by grouping similar properties as of July 1, of the previous year. Some of the factors that determine the value of your home include style of house, square footage, lot size, basement finish, walkout, year of construction, overall quality, and location. Unique location influences like mountain and river views naturally lend themselves to an overall higher market value compared to other locations. If you have questions or concerns regarding your property tax assessment, please call Assessor Ryan Vogt with Benchmark Assessment Consultants Inc. at 403-381-0535 to discuss your assessment. Tax Bill Calculations Municipalities levy taxes to help pay for services such as solid waste, FCSS, fire, bylaw enforcement, parks, recreation, libraries, and public works. The Town Council reviews and approves the amount required to fund these services each year. From this amount sources of revenue other than property taxes, such as provincial grants, license fees, and user fees, are subtracted. The balance after that is the amount to be collected through property taxes. To determine the amount of your property tax, the assessed value of your property is multiplied by the combined Mill Rates for the year. A minimum tax of $635 applies to all properties in the Town of Magrath. Payments You can pay your taxes online through banks that offer online payment options. This is an easy process, and we highly encourage you to investigate paying taxes this way, or through TIPP. To pay online, go to your bank’s online payment portal, use the six-digit “account number” shown on the top center of your assessment notice, and pay the amount owing to The Town of Magrath Taxes or The Town of Magrath Utilities. Please pay for just one property at a time. You can contact your bank for more help or information. Alternatively, you may pay online via e-transfer by sending money to payments@magrath.ca (Please note your name and roll number in the memo) You may pay by credit card using OptionPay Services (additional fees will apply) at https://www.magrath.ca/make-a-payment
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Irrigation turn on notice.