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2018 Water Treatment Plant raw water quality test results

Image of Deacon ReservoirThe aqueduct carries raw water from Shoal Lake to Deacon Reservoir. Deacon Reservoir is a storage reservoir located just east of Winnipeg. There are four open cells at Deacon, which together hold 8.8 billion litres, enough water to supply Winnipeg for about 20 days. Before the Water Treatment Plant was built, raw water sampling was done at Deacon Reservoir. The water now leaves Deacon Reservoir and enters the Water Treatment Plant where we do our raw water testing.

Testing

We test the raw water at the Water Treatment Plant on a continual basis. We also test water from Shoal Lake, the Water Treatment Plant treated water outlet and the Winnipeg distribution system. We track seasonal variations in water quality as the water passes through the aqueduct, the Deacon Reservoirs and enters the Water Treatment Plant.

At the Water Treatment Plant raw water inlet sampling point we test for:

  • routine water chemistry
  • taste and odour compounds
  • metals
  • disinfection by-products
  • bacteria and protozoa
  • toxins produced by algae
  • pesticides, herbicides and PCBs

Test results are from January 1 to December 31, 2018

What is being measured How it's measured Guideline or regulation Water Treatment Plant raw average Water Treatment Plant raw range Comments
Miscellaneous
Carbon, Dissolved Organic parts per million no guideline 8.8 3.5 to 14.9 -
Carbon, Total Organic parts per million no guideline 9.6 3.6 to 16.3 -
Chlorine, Free parts per million no guideline 0.03 <0.02 to 0.09 -
Chlorine, Total parts per million no guideline 0.04 <0.02 to 0.16 -
Chlorophyll-a parts per billion no guideline 7.0 2.0 to 19.6 Chlorophyll is found in algae
Colour, True TCU no more than 15 * 7.2 1.0 to 11.0 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Conductivity microsiemens per centimetre no guideline 167 154 to 184 Another measure of dissolved solids
Langelier Index (4 C) units no guideline -0.30 -0.45 to -0.11 -
Langelier Index (60 C) units no guideline 0.48 0.33 to 0.67 -
Microcystin LR parts per billion no more than 1.5 <0.2 <0.2 to <0.2 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Odour  units inoffensive * 91 75 to 150 Raw water - guideline does not apply
ORP millivolts no guideline 350 206 to 516  
Oxygen, Dissolved parts per million no guideline 11.5 7.1 to 14.6 -
pH  units between 7.0 and 10.5 8.01 7.62 to 8.62 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Plankton (algae) count  cells/mL no guideline 6,434 945 to 15,299 Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging
Solids, Total parts per million no guideline 107.5 76 to 154 -
Solids, Total Dissolved parts per million no more than 500 * 94 63 to 131 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Temperature degrees Celcius no more than 15 * 9.4 1.0 to 23.6 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Turbidity (clearness) NTU no more than 0.3 in 95% of measurements/month, never to exceed 1.0 0.95 0.38 to 2.82 Raw water - guideline does not apply
UV Transmittance, Filtered percent transmissivity no guideline 75.9 72.0 to 80.3 -
UV Transmittance, Unfiltered percent transmissivity no guideline 74.1 71.2 to 77.2 -
Anions and Nutrients
Alkalinity, Total parts per million as calcium carbonate no guideline 77 69 to 88 -
Alkalinity, Bicarbonate parts per million no guideline 101 92 to 107 -
Alkalinity, Carbonate parts per million no guideline <0.60 <0.60 to <0.60 -
Alkalinity, Hydroxide parts per million no guideline <0.34 <0.34 to <0.34 -
Hardness, Total parts per million as calcium carbonate no guideline 81.3 74.3 to 91.0 -
Ammonia parts per million no guideline 0.014 <0.010 to 0.021 -
Bromide parts per million no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Chloride parts per million no more than 250 * 2.7 <0.4 to 5.6 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Fluoride parts per million no more than 1.5 0.062 0.059 to 0.065 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Nitrate Nitrogen parts per million no more than 10 0.0126 <0.0050 to 0.0389 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Nitrite parts per million no more than 3 <0.0010 <0.0010 to <0.0010 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Perchlorate parts per billion no guideline <0.2 <0.2 to <0.2 -
Phosphorus,Total parts per million no guideline <0.050 <0.0012 to <0.050 Phosphorus can contribute to algae growth
Sulphate parts per million no more than 500 * 1.23 <0.40 to 5.65 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Bacteria
Escherichia Coli MPN per 100 mL none detectable per 100 mL 33 <1 to >200 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Total Coliforms MPN per 100 mL none detectable per 100 mL 81 <1 to >200 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Heterotrophic Plate Count CFU per mL no guideline 133 2 to >300 -
Disinfection By-Products
Aldehydes parts per billion no guideline 4.0 1.7 to 9.2 -
Bromodichloromethane parts per billion no guideline <0.4 <0.4 to <0.4 -
Haloacetic acids parts per billion no more than 80 <4 <1.1 to <4 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Trihalomethanes parts per billion no more than 100 <1.7 <1.7 to <3.0 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Enteric Protozoa
Cryptosporidium oocysts per 100 L no guideline <1 <1 to <1 13 samples taken in 2018
Giardia cysts per 100 L no guideline <1 <1 to <1 13 samples taken in 2018
Taste and Odours
236 TCA - 2,3,6-trichloroanisole parts per trillion no guideline <0.5 <0.5 to <0.5 -
246 TCA - 2,4,6-trichloroanisole parts per trillion no guideline <0.5 <0.5 to <0.5 -
345 TCV - 3,4,5-trichloroveratrole parts per trillion no guideline <0.2 <0.2 to <0.2 -
Geosmin parts per trillion no guideline 5.9 1.6 to 13.1 -
IBMP - 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine parts per trillion no guideline <0.2 <0.2 to <0.2 -
IPMP - 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine parts per trillion no guideline <0.2 <0.2 to <0.2 -
Dichloromethane parts per million no more than 0.05 <0.0005 <0.0005 to <0.0015 Raw water - guideline does not apply
MIB - 2-methylisoborneol parts per trillion no guideline <10 <10 to <10 -
MTBE - methyl tertiary-butyl ether parts per million no more than 0.015 * <0.0005 <0.0005 to <0.0005 Raw water - guideline does not apply
NDMA -
N-nitrosodimethylamine
parts per trillion no more than 40 <1.0 <1.0 to 1.3 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Total Metals
Aluminum parts per million no guideline 0.00310 0.00114 to 0.01337 -
Antimony parts per million no more than 0.006 <0.00050 <0.000025 to <0.00050 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Arsenic parts per million no more than 0.010 0.00073 0.00056 to 0.00143 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Barium parts per million no more than 1 0.0154 0.0141 to 0.0192 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Beryllium parts per million no guideline <0.00003 <0.00003 to <0.00010 -
Bismuth parts per million no guideline <0.000050 <0.000050 to <0.000050 -
Boron parts per million no more than 5 0.0041 <0.00208 to 0.0160 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Cadmium parts per million no more than 0.005 <0.00060 <0.000005 to <0.00060 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Calcium parts per million no guideline 21.5 16.3 to 25.7 Contributes to hardness
Cesium parts per million no guideline <0.000010 <0.000010 to <0.000010 -
Chromium parts per million no more than 0.05 <0.00060 <0.00004 to <0.00060 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Chromium VI parts per million no guideline <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 -
Cobalt parts per million no guideline <0.00010 <0.00001 to <0.00010 -
Copper parts per million no more than 1.0 * 0.00055 <0.000022 to 0.00513 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Iron parts per million no more than 0.3 * 0.0529 0.0191 to 0.1971 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Lead parts per million no more than 0.010 <0.00060 <0.00005 to <0.00060 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Lithium parts per million no guideline 0.0022 0.0014 to 0.0029 -
Magnesium parts per million no guideline 6.58 5.20 to 7.54 Contributes to hardness
Manganese parts per million no more than 0.05 * 0.0112 0.0038 to 0.0788 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Mercury parts per billion no more than 1 <0.0005 <0.0005 to <0.0010 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Molybdenum parts per million no guideline 0.000087 <0.000012 to 0.000207 -
Nickel parts per million no guideline 0.00026 <0.000021 to 0.00120 -
Potassium parts per million no guideline 1.26 0.97 to 1.47 -
Rubidium parts per million no guideline 0.00167 0.00156 to 0.00177 -
Selenium parts per million no more than 0.05 0.000080 <0.000050 to <0.000190 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Silicon parts per million no guideline 3.14 2.68 to 3.45 -
Silver parts per million no guideline <0.000010 <0.000010 to <0.000010 -
Sodium parts per million no more than 200 * 2.49 2.03 to 2.81 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Strontium parts per million no guideline 0.0380 0.0348 to 0.0434 -
Tellurium parts per million no guideline <0.00020 <0.00020 to <0.00020 -
Thallium parts per million no guideline <0.000010 <0.000010 to <0.000016 -
Thorium parts per million no guideline <0.00010 <0.00010 to <0.00010 -
Tin parts per million no guideline <0.00010 <0.000025 to <0.00010 -
Titanium parts per million no guideline <0.00012 <0.00012 to <0.00030 -
Tungsten parts per million no guideline <0.00010 <0.00010 to <0.00010 -
Uranium parts per million no more than 0.02 <0.00060 <0.00001 to <0.00060 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Vanadium parts per million no guideline 0.00015 0.00008 to <0.00050 -
Zinc parts per million no more than 5.0 * 0.00074 <0.00011 to 0.00727 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Zirconium parts per million no guideline <0.000060 <0.000060 to <0.000060 -
Pesticides
Alachlor parts per billion no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 -
Aldrin parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
alpha-BHC parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
alpha-Chlordane parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
alpha-Endosulfan parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Atrazine parts per billion no more than 5 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Azinphosmethyl parts per billion no more than 20 <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 Raw water - guideline does not apply
beta-BHC parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
beta-Endosulfan parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Carbaryl parts per billion no guideline <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 -
Carbofuran parts per billion no more than 90 <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Chlorothalonil parts per billion no guideline <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 -
Chlorpyrifos parts per billion no more than 90 <0.0050 <0.0050 to <0.0050 Raw water - guideline does not apply
delta-BHC parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Diazinon parts per billion no more than 20 <0.0050 <0.0050 to <0.0050 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Diclofop-methyl parts per billion no more than 9 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Dieldrin parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Dimethoate parts per billion no more than 20 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Endrin parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Eptam parts per billion no guideline <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 -
gamma-Chlordane parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Heptachlor parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Heptachlor Epoxide parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Lindane (gamma-BHC) parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Malathion parts per billion no more than 190 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Methoxychlor parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Methyl Parathion parts per billion no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 -
Metribuzin parts per billion no more than 80 <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Mirex parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
o,p-DDD parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
o,p-DDE parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
o,p-DDT parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
p,p-DDD parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
p,p-DDE parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
p,p-DDT parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Parathion parts per billion no guideline <0.013 <0.013 to <0.013 -
Propaclor parts per billion no guideline <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 -
Propanil parts per billion no guideline <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 -
Propoxur parts per billion no guideline <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 -
Simazine parts per billion no more than 10 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Terbufos parts per billion no more than 1 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Triallate parts per billion no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 -
Trichlopyr parts per billion no guideline <0.050 <0.050 to 0.050 -
Trifluralin parts per billion no more than 45 <0.030 <0.030 to <0.030 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Arochlor 1016 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.020 -
Arochlor 1221 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.020 -
Arochlor 1232 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.020 -
Arochlor 1242 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.020 -
Arochlor 1248 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.020 -
Arochlor 1254 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.020 -
Arochlor 1260 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.020 -
Phenoxy Acid Herbicides
2,4,5-T parts per billion no guideline <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 -
2,4,5-TP parts per billion no guideline <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 -
2,4-D parts per billion no more than 100 <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 Raw water - guideline does not apply
2,4-DB parts per billion no guideline <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 -
2,4-DP parts per billion no guideline <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 -
Bromoxynil parts per billion no more than 5 <0.020 <0.020 to <0.020 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Dicamba parts per billion no more than 120 <0.0060 <0.0060 to <0.0060 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Dinoseb parts per billion no guideline <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 -
MCPA parts per billion no more than 100 <0.025 <0.025 to <0.025 Raw water - guideline does not apply
MCPB parts per billion no guideline <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 -
Mecoprop parts per billion no guideline <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 -
Picloram parts per billion no more than 190 <0.20 <0.20 to <0.40 Raw water - guideline does not apply

Note: Where value is expressed as less than (<), the value is halved and used in the calculations, where value is expressed as greater than (>), the value is used in the calculations

* Aesthetic objective: These guidelines have an objective and not a maximum acceptable limit. These parameters should not impact the safety of the water to drink and there is no anticipated health risk for short-term exposures.

Guidelines from 'Summary of Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality' by Health Canada, February 2017

Last updated: April 3, 2019

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