2017 Water Treatment Plant raw water quality test results

The 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 March 31, 2017

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	14.3	8.3 to 22.1	-
Carbon, Total Organic	parts per million	no guideline	16.1	8.2 to 30.9	-
Chlorine, Free	parts per million	no guideline	<0.02	<0.02 to 0.03	-
Chlorine, Total	parts per million	no guideline	0.02	<0.02 to 0.06	-
Chlorophyll-a	parts per billion	no guideline	2	2 to 2	Chlorophyll is found in algae
Colour, True	TCU	no more than 15 *	15.5	11.3 to 18.0	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Conductivity	microsiemens per centimetre	no guideline	181	174 to 187	Another measure of dissolved solids
Langelier Index (4 C)	units	no guideline	-0.46	-0.46 to -0.46	-
Langelier Index (60 C)	units	no guideline	0.31	0.31 to 0.31	-
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 *	85	75 to 150	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Oxygen, Dissolved	parts per million	no guideline	12.1	9.9 to 13.3	-
pH	units	between 7.0 and 10.5	7.66	7.44 to 7.93	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Plankton (algae) count	cells/mL	no guideline	1,833	600 to 3,400	Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging
Solids, Total	parts per million	no guideline	121	98 to 135	-
Solids, Total Dissolved	parts per million	no more than 500 *	109	96 to 122	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Temperature	degrees Celcius	no more than 15 *	3.1	1.9 to 5.6	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Turbidity (clearness)	NTU	no more than 0.3 in 95% of measurements/month, never to exceed 1.0	0.56	0.47 to 1.16	Raw water - guideline does not apply
UV Absorbance, Unfiltered	units per centimeter	no guideline	0.162	0.151 to 0.168	-
UV Transmittance, Filtered	percent transmissivity	no guideline	70.1	69.0 to 72.3	-
UV Transmittance, Unfiltered	percent transmissivity	no guideline	68.8	67.9 to 70.6	-
Anions and Nutrients
Alkalinity, Total	parts per million as calcium carbonate	no guideline	82	79 to 86	-
Alkalinity, Bicarbonate	parts per million	no guideline	105	105 to 105	-
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	87	81 to 90	-
Ammonia	parts per million	no guideline	0.052	0.052 to 0.052	-
Bromide	parts per million	no guideline	<0.10	<0.10 to <0.10	-
Chloride	parts per million	no more than 250 *	2.8	1.6 to 3.7	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Fluoride	parts per million	no guideline	0.056	0.056 to 0.056	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Nitrate Nitrogen	parts per million	no more than 10	0.0402	0.0402 to 0.0402	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Nitrite	parts per million	no guideline	0.0028	0.0028 to 0.0028	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	<0.10	<0.10 to <0.10	Phosphorus can contribute to algae growth
Sulphate	parts per million	no more than 500 *	1.3	<2.0 to 4.8	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Bacteria
Escherichia Coli	MPN per 100 mL	none detectable per 100 mL	<1	<1 to 1	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Total Coliforms	MPN per 100 mL	none detectable per 100 mL	3	<1 to 8	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Heterotrophic Plate Count	CFU per mL	no guideline	9	<1 to 52	-
Disinfection By-Products
Aldehydes	parts per billion	no guideline	2.6	1.2 to 4.5	-
Bromodichloromethane	parts per billion	no guideline	<0.4	<0.4 to <0.4	-
Haloacetic acids	parts per billion	no more than 80	<3	<3 to <3	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Trihalomethanes	parts per billion	no more than 100	<3	<3 to <3	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Enteric Protozoa
Cryptosporidium	oocysts per 100 L	no guideline	<1	<1 to <1	3 samples taken in 2017
Giardia	cysts per 100 L	no guideline	<1	<1 to <1	3 samples taken in 2017
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	3.5	2.0 to 6.3	-
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	-
Methylene Chloride (Dichloromethane)	parts per billion	no more than 50	<0.5	<0.5 to <0.5	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 billion	no more than 15 *	<0.5	<0.5 to <0.5	Raw water - guideline does not apply
NDMA - N-nitrosodimethylamine	parts per billion	no more than 0.04	<0.0005	<0.0005 to <0.0005	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Total Metals
Aluminum	parts per million	no guideline	0.0030	0.0006 to <0.0100	-
Antimony	parts per million	no more than 0.006	<0.0005	<0.0002 to <0.0005	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Arsenic	parts per million	no more than 0.010	0.0008	0.0008 to 0.0010	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Barium	parts per million	no more than 1	0.0168	0.0168 to 0.0168	Raw water - guideline does not apply
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	0.0068	0.0044 to 0.0120	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Cadmium	parts per million	no more than 0.005	<0.00040	<0.00001 to <0.00040	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Calcium	parts per million	no guideline	22.3	19.8 to 23.4	Contributes to hardness
Cesium	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00010	<0.00010 to <0.00010	-
Chromium	parts per million	no more than 0.05	<0.0007	<0.0007 to 0.0010	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Chromium VI	parts per billion	no guideline	1.1	1.1 to 1.1	-
Cobalt	parts per million	no guideline	<0.0002	<0.0002 to <0.0002	-
Copper	parts per million	no more than 1.0 *	0.0013	0.0005 to <0.0050	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Iron	parts per million	no more than 0.3 *	0.083	0.034 to 0.107	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Lead	parts per million	no more than 0.010	<0.00040	<0.00009 to <0.00040	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Lithium	parts per million	no guideline	0.0025	0.0025 to 0.0025	-
Magnesium	parts per million	no guideline	6.45	5.90 to 6.93	Contributes to hardness
Manganese	parts per million	no more than 0.05 *	0.0086	0.0055 to 0.0140	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Mercury	parts per trillion	no more than 1000	0.7	0.7 to 0.7	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Molybdenum	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00020	<0.00020 to <0.00020	-
Nickel	parts per million	no guideline	0.0005	0.0004 to <0.0020	-
Potassium	parts per million	no guideline	1.20	1.02 to 1.28	-
Rubidium	parts per million	no guideline	0.00192	0.00192 to 0.00192	-
Selenium	parts per million	no more than 0.05	<0.0010	<0.0010 to <0.0010	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Silicon	parts per million	no guideline	1.34	1.34 to 1.34	-
Silver	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00010	<0.00010 to <0.00010	-
Sodium	parts per million	no more than 200	2.22	2.01 to 2.63	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Strontium	parts per million	no guideline	0.0417	0.0417 to 0.0417	-
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	<0.00050	<0.00050 to <0.00050	-
Tungsten	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00010	<0.00010 to <0.00010	-
Uranium	parts per million	no more than 0.02	0.0002	<0.0001 to <0.0005	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Vanadium	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00020	<0.00020 to <0.00020	-
Zinc	parts per million	no more than 5.0 *	0.0034	0.0007 to 0.0200	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Zirconium	parts per million	no guideline	<0.0005	<0.0001 to <0.0005	-
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	<0.10	<0.10 to <0.10	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	-
Carbofuran	parts per billion	no more than 90	<0.20	<0.20 to <0.20	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Chlorpyrifos	parts per billion	no more than 90	<0.10	<0.10 to <0.10	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	<0.10	<0.10 to <0.10	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	<0.10	<0.10 to <0.10	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	<0.20	<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	-
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	<0.02	<0.02 to <0.02	-
Arochlor 1221	parts per billion	no guideline	<0.02	<0.02 to <0.02	-
Arochlor 1232	parts per billion	no guideline	<0.02	<0.02 to <0.02	-
Arochlor 1242	parts per billion	no guideline	<0.02	<0.02 to <0.02	-
Arochlor 1248	parts per billion	no guideline	<0.02	<0.02 to <0.02	-
Arochlor 1254	parts per billion	no guideline	<0.02	<0.02 to <0.02	-
Arochlor 1260	parts per billion	no guideline	<0.02	<0.02 to <0.02	-
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 <0.20	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