History of Treatment / Watershed Management & Protection Strategy /Treatment Process / Multibarrier Approach / Drying Beds / Water Conservation / FAQ's

The Town of New Glasgow has provide water to their customers for over 100 years with many technological treatment improvements over the years.  The most recent improvement involved the construction of a new treatment facility that was opened in September of 2000.  The Water Treatment Facility provides water to the Towns of New Glasgow, Westville, parts of the County, NS Power and Trenton Works that meets and exceeds Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines.  The sole water supply comes from Forbes Lake.

In 1995, the Town of New Glasgow formed the Forbes Lake Watershed Advisory Committee to prepare a watershed management and protection strategy for the Forbes Lake watershed.  The Forbes Lake Watershed Management and Protection Strategy explores many facets of the watershed including its size and location.  The strategy also includes activities that occur within the watershed such as roadwork, construction, residential activities, as well as agricultural and forestry practices.  Through the exploration of all these topics, the committee and residents of the watershed have compiled a manual that attempts to manage and protect the watershed by regulating activity within its boundaries.  The manual, one of the first of its kind in the province, is now designated as a protected watershed by the Minister of the Environment.

The Treatment Facility staffs four certified operators which strive to produce the highest quality of water for our customers.  In conjunction with this, the Water Utilities goal is to provide safe drinking water, utility/customer cooperation & education, watershed management, water treatment optimization, and water distribution rehabilitation & protection thru the Multibarrier Approach.

The average daily water consumption by our customers is approximately 8640 m3/day (~1,900,000 ImpGals/day).  This water is treated at the Forbes Lake Water Treatment Facility  to remove organics, minerals, metals and bacteria.  After the treatment process, the water is delivered to our customers via a network of pipes, booster stations and three reservoirs throughout New Glasgow and Westville.  The water is continually monitored within the treatment facility and distribution system to insure that our customers receive water that meets and exceeds the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines.

How to Reach Us:
If you have any questions or concerns about water treatment, water quality or info on water leaks please contact us at:

Town of New Glasgow
Engineering & Public Works
235 Park Street
New Glasgow, NS
Phone 755-8351
For Water Facility school tours call 755-8351.