Are they a problem for Torontos water treatment plants?
The zebra mussels will naturally attach themselves to hard surfaces such as concrete intake pipes. Zebra mussels have been found on the exterior of the raw water intakes of the Toronto’s four water treatment plants. However growth of the mussel colonies has been sporadic, to date has not affected water flows through the intakes. What is Toronto doing to control zebra mussels? Various methods were considered by Toronto to control the zebra mussels. However, since the only short-term control method approved by the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) is chlorine application, this is the only method being used by Toronto. Chlorine is already used in the treatment of Toronto’s water to control algae and bacteria at the beginning (pre-chlorination), and at the end (post-chlorination) of the water treatment process. Will this increase the level of chlorine in Lake Ontario and, ultimately, in our drinking water? No. The use of chlorine to ward off zebra mussels from the water intake pipes on
