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2012 Winnipeg distribution system water quality test results

Image of water running out of a tapThe Winnipeg distribution system is the last location where we add chlorine to the water - at the outlet from each of the three pumping stations. The other locations are at the Shoal Lake intake on a periodic basis and at the Water Treatment Plant.

Our Operating Licence requires that we maintain a minimum free chlorine residual of 0.1 milligrams per litre throughout the distribution system.

Testing

Winnipeg water is intensively monitored on a routine basis at Shoal Lake, before it enters the Water Treatment Plant and after the water has passed through the treatment processes to ensure that the water is safe and that regulatory requirements are met. Because water quality is so important, our level of monitoring and sampling exceeds Provincial regulatory requirements.

  • We monitor chlorine at the places where it is added, and at 39 sites throughout the distribution system. Equipment is used to continuously monitor chlorine levels at the pumping stations and the distribution system levels are checked on a weekly basis.
  • Microbiological samples are taken weekly at over 60 locations throughout the system. Tests are conducted for Escherichia coli and total coliform bacteria according to Provincial regulations. We also test for Heterotrophic plate count which is not required under the new Provincial regulations but can be useful to identify potential problem areas within the distribution system.

We also test Winnipeg distribution system water for:

  • routine water chemistry
  • metals (analyzed both by us and the Province)
  • disinfection by-products

We measure how water quality changes within the distribution system and the quality of water delivered to customers with these tests. We also respond to customer inquiries and complaints about water quality. Contact us for more information.

What is being measured How it's measured Guideline or regulation Winnipeg average Winnipeg range Comments
Odour 1  units Inoffensive 23 15 to 35 Meets the guideline
Perchlorate 1  parts per billion no guideline <0.2 <0.2 to <0.2 -
Chlorophyll-a 1 parts per billion no guideline <1 <1 to <1  Chlorophyll is found in algae 
Turbidity (clearness) 2 NTU no guideline 0.26 0.11 to 3.84 -
Colour, True 3 TCU no more than 15 1.3 0.5 to 2.5 Meets the guideline
Total Dissolved Solids 3 parts per million no more than 500 175 161 to 189 Meets the guideline
pH 2  units between 6.5 and 8.5 7.50 7.27 to 7.80 Meets the guideline
Temperature 2 degrees Celcius no more than 15 11.7 1.9 to 27.2 Does not always meet the guideline
Total Alkalinity 3 parts per million as calcium carbonate no guideline 69 60 to 80 -
Total Hardness 3 parts per million as calcium carbonate between 80 and 100 81 75 to 90 Does not always meet the guideline
Dissolved Oxygen 2 parts per million no guideline 11.2 8.5 to 14.2 -
Fluoride 3 parts per million no more than 1.5 0.70 0.65 to 0.74 Meets the guideline
Soluble Phosphate 3 parts per million as phosphate no guideline 2.01 1.87 to 2.28 Added for Lead Control Program
Chloride 3 parts per million no more than 250 22 16 to 28 Meets the guideline
Sulphate 3 parts per million no more than 500 44 32 to 53 Meets the guideline
Chlorine (free) 2 parts per million no guideline 0.64 <0.02 to 1.15 -
Chlorine (total) 2 parts per million no guideline 0.84 0.02 to 1.41 -
Trihalomethanes 4 parts per billion no more than 100 28.8 9.9 to 55.0 Meets the guideline
Bromodichloromethane 4 parts per billion no more than 16 4 <0.5 to 6.5 Meets the guideline
Haloacetic acids 4 parts per billion no more than 80 28 14 to 40 Meets the guideline
Aldehydes 4 parts per billion no guideline 18 9 to 26 -
Calcium 4 parts per million no guideline 22.5 19.7 to 26.8 Contributes to hardness
Magnesium 4 parts per million no guideline 6.3 5.0 to 8.0 Contributes to hardness
Sodium 4 parts per million no more than 200 33.7 29.5 to 41.2 Meets the guideline
Potassium 4 parts per million no guideline 1.3 1.2 to 1.7 -
Iron 5 parts per million no more than 0.3 0.05 <0.01 to 0.24 Meets the guideline
Copper 4 parts per million no more than 1.0 0.071 0.021 to 0.157 Meets the guideline
Lead 4 parts per million no more than 0.01 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline
Aluminum 4 parts per million no more than 0.1 0.003 <0.001 to 0.016 Meets the guideline
Arsenic 4 parts per million no more than 0.01 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline
Chromium IV 4 parts per million no guideline <0.01 <0.01 to <0.01 -
Chromium 4 parts per million no more than 0.05 <0.001 <0.001 to 0.002 Meets the guideline
Nickel 4 parts per million no guideline 0.003 0.002 to 0.004 -
Cadmium 4 parts per million no more than 0.005 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline
Manganese 4 parts per million no more than 0.05 0.031 0.018 to 0.088 Does not always meet the guideline
Zinc 4 parts per million no more than 5.0 <0.001 <0.001 to 0.005 Meets the guideline
Mercury 4 parts per million no more than 0.001 <0.000001 <0.000001 to <0.000001 Meets the guideline
Antimony 4 parts per million no more than 0.006 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline
Boron 4 parts per million no more than 5 0.012 0.009 to 0.016 Meets the guideline
Uranium 4 parts per million no more than 0.02 <0.001 <0.001 to <0.001 Meets the guideline
Zirconium 4 parts per million no guideline <0.001 <0.001 to 0.001 -

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

1 Data reported was collected from MacLean, Hurst, and McPhillips Pumping Station Discharges.

2 Data reported was collected from 39 distribution system locations.

3 Data reported was collected from a composite sample of the 39 distribution system locations and MacLean, Hurst, and McPhillips Pumping Station Discharges.

4 Data reported was collected from 6 distribution system locations.

5 Data reported was collected from a composite sample of the 39 distribution system locations and samples collected from MacLean, Hurst, and McPhillips Pumping Station Discharges and samples collected from 6 distribution system locations.

Bacterial testing

What is being measured Guideline Our test results Comments
Number of total coliform bacteria tests in year 1820 samples 3,159 More testing than required by the guideline/provincial regulation
Number of times that total coliform bacteria show up in a test no more than 10% of samples with positive total coliform or no consecutive positives from the same site. 0.22%
(7 positive tests)
All resamples were negative and met the guideline/provincial regulation
Number of Escherichia coli bacteria tests in year 1820 samples 3,159 More testing than required by the guideline/provincial regulation
Number of times that Escherichia coli bacteria show up in a test no bacteria present in the sample  0.00%
(no positive tests)
There were no positive tests for Escherichia coli bacteria
Number of heterotrophic (bacteria) plate count (HPC) tests done no guideline 3,076 Heterotrophic plate count is not required under the provincial regulations.

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

Data reported was collected from 60 distribution system locations and MacLean, Hurst, and McPhillips Pumping Station Discharges

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Last updated: June 29, 2018

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