Winnipeg, MB - The City of Winnipeg will be modifying the treatment processes at the water treatment plant and will flush water lines more frequently as part of its efforts to reduce the discoloured water some Winnipeggers have seen coming from their taps.
A report released today identified that the discoloured water was largely due to increased levels of manganese, a naturally occurring element that is also commonly found in water treatment products.
The report confirms that Winnipeg’s water is safe and meets all regulatory requirements for health, which is supported by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
“I have reviewed the consultant’s report with my colleagues, and we remain of the opinion that Winnipeg water is safe to drink as long as it continues to meet all current regulatory standards,” said Dr. Lisa Richards, Medical Officer of Health with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
“Until now, we haven’t been able to pinpoint the cause of increased occurrences of discoloured water,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “This report gives us the answers we need. Now we can get on with implementing solutions.”
Councillor Justin Swandel, Chair of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works, said today, “The report outlines a number of measures we can take to reduce the levels of manganese, several of which are well underway.”
“Our immediate actions include switching to a new water treatment product that contains lower levels of manganese, and fast tracking the schedule of the annual Water Main Cleaning Program to clean all 2,581 kilometers in just two years, compared to the routine program of six years,” said Diane Sacher, Director of the City’s Water and Waste Department. “Winnipeggers should expect to see some difference this summer since we’re starting this work immediately.”
Manganese occurs naturally in water taken from rivers and lakes and the levels have risen slightly over the years in Shoal Lake, Winnipeg’s water source.
However, the primary source of the increase in manganese is ferric chloride, used in one of the key treatment processes (coagulation) at the drinking water treatment plant. The materials used to manufacture ferric chloride contain manganese. Ferric chloride is approved for use in drinking water treatment by an American Water Works Association standard and is used in drinking water treatment plants across North America.
“The report outlines a number of short and longer term measures we can take to reduce the levels of manganese, including using an alternative ferric chloride with a lower concentration of manganese,” added Sacher. “While we expect that it will take approximately two years to implement all the recommendations in the report, our customers should see a gradual reduction in discoloured water as each recommendation is implemented.”
Citizens are reminded that even after all the measures are in place, there will continue to be incidents of discoloured water from time to time, as is common in most public water systems. A change in the rate of flow of water in the distribution system during routine operations (e.g., turning valves on and off, opening fire hydrants, repairing water main leaks) can cause sediment and minerals in the water pipes to loosen or dissolve and be released into the water.
The report, along with an outline of the corrective measures is available by viewing the agenda for the February 4, 2014 meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works here.
For further information:
City of Winnipeg FAQ on discoloured water
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Manitoba Office of Drinking Water
Health Canada: Reports and Publications on Water Quality
Contact 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone or by email at 311@winnipeg.ca