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2012 Water Treatment Plant treated water quality test results

Image of water treatment plant filter tanksThe new Water Treatment Plant is a state-of-the-art, modern facility designed for performance, safety, and environmental sustainability. In the plant, the water goes through several treatment processes, including dissolved air flotation, ozonation, filtration and ultraviolet light disinfection. Fluoride and orthophosphate are also added to the water. The Water Treatment Plant allows us to:

  • comply with the requirements of our Operating Licence
  • meet increasingly strict Canadian drinking water quality guidelines,
  • virtually eliminate the risk of waterborne disease,
  • reduce levels of disinfection by-products and
  • significantly improve the taste and odour of the drinking water.

Our Operating Licence requires that we maintain a minimum free chlorine residual of 0.5 milligrams per litre in water leaving the Water Treatment Plant.

Testing

We test our water at Shoal Lake, at the Water Treatment Plant raw water inlet and at the Water Treatment Plant treated water outlet once the water has passed through all of the treatment processes. The water then flows from the water treatment plant to the three regional reservoirs and pumping stations before being distributed to Winnipeg homes and businesses.

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

  • routine water chemistry
  • taste and odour compounds
  • metals
  • disinfection by-products
  • bacteria
What is being measured How it's measured Guideline or regulation Water Treatment Plant treated average Water Treatment Plant treated range Comments
Odour  units Inoffensive 20 12 to 25 Meets the guideline
Methylene Chloride parts per billion no guideline <0.5 <0.5 to <0.5 -
Perchlorate parts per billion no guideline <0.2 <0.2 to <0.2 -
Geosmin parts per trillion no guideline <0.5 <0.5 to 2.3 Common taste and odour compound
IPMP - 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine parts per trillion no guideline <0.5 <0.5 to <0.5 Common taste and odour compound
IBMP - 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine parts per trillion no guideline <0.5 <0.5 to <0.5 Common taste and odour compound
MIB - 2-methylisoborneol parts per trillion no guideline <0.6 <0.5 to 1.5 Common taste and odour compound
246 TCA - 2,4,6-trichloroanisole parts per trillion no guideline <1.0 <0.5 to <2.0 Common taste and odour compound
236 TCA - 2,3,6-trichloroanisole parts per trillion no guideline <1.0 <0.5 to <2.0 Common taste and odour compound
345 TCV - 3,4,5-trichloroveratrole parts per trillion no guideline <0.5 <0.5 to <0.5 Common taste and odour compound
MTBE - methyl tertiary-butyl ether parts per million no more than 0.015 <0.0005 <0.0005 to <0.0005 Meets the guideline
NDMA -
N-nitrosodimethylamine
parts per billion no more than 0.04 <0.0005 <0.0005 to <0.0010 Meets the guideline
Plankton (algae) count  cells/mL no guideline <100 <100 to <100 Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging
Chlorophyll-a parts per billion no guideline <1 <1 to <1  Chlorophyll is found in algae 
Microcystin LR parts per billion no more than 1.5 <0.2 <0.2 to <0.5 Meets the guideline
Turbidity (clearness) NTU no more than 1 0.16 0.06 to 0.32 Meets the guideline
Colour, True TCU no more than 15 1.3 0.5 to 2.5 Meets the guideline
Total Solids parts per million no guideline 189 174 to 222 -
Total Dissolved Solids parts per million no more than 500 176 156 to 204 Meets the guideline
Conductivity microsiemens per centimetre no guideline 322 300 to 364 Another measure of dissolved solids
pH  units between 6.5 and 8.5 7.67 7.23 to 8.05 Does not always meet the guideline
Temperature degrees Celcius no more than 15 10.4 1.2 to 24.6 Does not always meet the guideline
Total Alkalinity parts per million as calcium carbonate no guideline 71 61 to 84 -
Total Hardness parts per million as calcium carbonate between 80 and 100 80 74 to 92 Does not always meet the guideline
Total Organic Carbon parts per million no guideline 4 3 to 5 -
Dissolved Organic Carbon parts per million no guideline 4 3 to 5 -
Total Inorganic Carbon parts per million no guideline 17.8 16.5 to 19.1 -
Dissolved Oxygen parts per million no guideline 11.3 8.8 to 14.5 -
Total Phosphorus parts per million no guideline <0.20 <0.10 to <0.20 Phosphorus can contribute to algae growth
Ammonia parts per million no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Nitrate Nitrogen parts per million no more than 10 0.027 0.027 to 0.027 Meets the guideline
Chloride parts per million no more than 250 22 17 to 28 Meets the guideline
Sulphate parts per million no more than 500 44 34 to 53 Meets the guideline
UV Transmittance (Filtered) percent transmissivity no guideline 95.6 90.7 to 99.2 -
UV Transmittance (Unfiltered) percent transmissivity no guideline 94.4 90.0 to 97.3 -
Chlorine (free) parts per million no guideline 1.14 0.82 to 1.67 -
Chlorine (total) parts per million no guideline 1.34 1.04 to 1.92 -
Trihalomethanes parts per billion no more than 100 6.7 1.0 to 12.9 Meets the guideline
Bromodichloromethane parts per billion no more than 16 0.8 <0.5 to 1.8 Meets the guideline
Haloacetic acids parts per billion no more than 80 13 <5 to 23 Meets the guideline
Aldehydes parts per billion no guideline 17 7 to 27 -
Carbofuran parts per billion no more than 90 <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 Meets the guideline
Propoxur parts per billion no more than 0.7 <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 Meets the guideline
Aldrin parts per billion no more than 0.7 <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 Meets the guideline
Lindane (gamma-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 -
gamma-Chlordane 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 -
Dieldrin parts per billion no more than 0.7 <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 Meets the guideline
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 -
Methoxychlor parts per billion no more than 900 <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 Meets the guideline
alpha-BHC parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
beta-BHC parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
delta-BHC 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 -
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 -
Alpha Endosulfan 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 -
Endrin parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Mirex parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Simazine parts per billion no more than 10 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Meets the guideline
Alachlor parts per billion no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 -
Atrazine parts per billion no more than 5 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Meets the guideline
Metribuzin parts per billion no more than 80 <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 Meets the guideline
Azinphosmethyl parts per billion no more than 20 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Meets the guideline
Chlorothalonil parts per billion no guideline <0.060 <0.060 to <0.060 -
Chlorpyrifos parts per billion no more than 90 <0.10 <0.020 to <0.10 Meets the guideline
Diazinon parts per billion no more than 20 <0.10 <0.030 to <0.10 Meets the guideline
Dimethoate parts per billion no more than 20 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Meets the guideline
Malathion parts per billion no more than 190 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Meets the guideline
Parathion parts per billion no more than 50 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Meets the guideline
Terbufos parts per billion no more than 1 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Meets the guideline
Methyl Parathion parts per billion no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 -
2,4-D parts per billion no more than 100 <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 Meets the guideline
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 -
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 -
Bromoxynil parts per billion no more than 5 <0.020 <0.020 to <0.020 Meets the guideline
Dicamba parts per billion no more than 120 <0.0060 <0.0060 to <0.0060 Meets the guideline
Dinoseb parts per billion no more than 10 <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 Meets the guideline
MCPA parts per billion no more than 100 <0.025 <0.025 to <0.025 Meets the guideline
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 <0.20 Meets the guideline
Trichlopyr parts per billion no guideline <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 -
Diclofop-methyl parts per billion no more than 9 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Meets the guideline
Eptam parts per billion no more than 9 <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 -
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 -
Triallate parts per billion no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 -
Trifluralin parts per billion no more than 45 <0.030 <0.030 to <0.030 Meets the guideline
Arochlor 1016 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.050 -
Arochlor 1221 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.050 -
Arochlor 1232 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.050 -
Arochlor 1242 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.050 -
Arochlor 1248 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.050 -
Arochlor 1254 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.050 -
Arochlor 1260 parts per billion no guideline <0.020 <0.020 to <0.050 -
Calcium parts per million no guideline 22.5 20.7 to 25.7 Contributes to hardness
Magnesium parts per million no guideline 6.5 5.8 to 7.7 Contributes to hardness
Sodium parts per million no more than 200 33.0 23.9 to 44.4 Meets the guideline
Potassium parts per million no guideline 1.3 1.2 to 1.5 -
Iron parts per million no more than 0.3 0.03 <0.01 to 0.11 Meets the guideline
Copper parts per million no more than 1.0 0.003 0.002 to 0.004 Meets the guideline
Lead parts per million no more than 0.01 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline
Aluminum parts per million no more than 0.1 0.002 <0.001 to 0.009 Meets the guideline
Arsenic parts per million no more than 0.01 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline
Chromium parts per million no more than 0.05 <0.001 <0.001 to 0.001 Meets the guideline
Chromium IV parts per million no guideline <0.01 <0.01 to <0.01 -
Nickel parts per million no guideline 0.003 0.003 to 0.004 -
Cadmium parts per million no more than 0.005 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline
Manganese parts per million no more than 0.05 0.034 0.024 to 0.071 Does not always meet the guideline
Zinc parts per million no more than 5.0 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline
Mercury parts per million no more than 0.001 <0.000001 <0.000001 to 0.000002 Meets the guideline
Antimony parts per million no more than 0.006 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline
Barium parts per million no more than 1 0.0189 0.0188 to 0.0190 Meets the guideline
Beryllium parts per million no guideline <0.00020 <0.00020 to <0.00020 -
Bismuth parts per million no guideline <0.00020 <0.00020 to <0.00020 -
Boron parts per million no more than 5 0.011 0.009 to 0.014 Meets the guideline
Cesium parts per million no guideline <0.00010 <0.00010 to <0.00010 -
Cobalt parts per million no guideline 0.00026 0.00024 to 0.00028 -
Lithium parts per million no guideline 0.0035 0.0023 to 0.0047 -
Molybdenum parts per million no guideline <0.00020 <0.00020 to <0.00020 -
Rubidium parts per million no guideline 0.00183 0.00166 to 0.00200 -
Selenium parts per million no more than 0.01 <0.0010 <0.0010 to <0.0010 Meets the guideline
Silicon parts per million no guideline 0.632 0.361 to 0.903 -
Silver parts per million no guideline <0.00010 <0.00010 to <0.00010 -
Strontium parts per million no guideline 0.0433 0.0410 to 0.0456 -
Tellurium parts per million no guideline <0.00020 <0.00020 to <0.00020 -
Thallium parts per million no guideline <0.00010 <0.00010 to <0.00010 -
Thorium parts per million no guideline <0.00010 <0.00010 to <0.00010 -
Tin parts per million no guideline <0.00020 <0.00020 to <0.00020 -
Titanium parts per million no guideline 0.00062 <0.00020 to 0.00113 -
Tungsten parts per million no guideline <0.0010 <0.0010 to <0.0010 -
Uranium parts per million no more than 0.02 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline
Vanadium parts per million no guideline <0.00020 <0.00020 to <0.00020 -
Zirconium parts per million no more than 0.1 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline

Guidelines from 'Summary of Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality' by Health Canada, revised February 15, 2013

Last updated: December 8, 2020

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