2009 Deacon Reservoir water quality test results
Deacon Reservoir is a storage reservoir 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. We rechlorinate the water with chlorine as it leaves Deacon Reservoir. We add sufficient chlorine to maintain a free chlorine residual of at least 0.3 milligrams per litre in the water before it is rechlorinated in the regional pumping stations. Before the water leaves Deacon Reservoir, we also add to the water precise amounts of fluoride (to prevent tooth decay) and orthophosphate (forms a protective coating inside water pipes as part of our lead control program).
Testing
We test the water from Shoal Lake, Deacon Reservoir and Winnipeg every week during warm weather and every two weeks during the winter. We track seasonal variations in water quality as the water passes through the aqueduct and Deacon Reservoir.
At Deacon Reservoir we test for:
- routine water chemistry
- taste and odour compounds
- metals
- disinfection by-products
- bacteria and protozoa
- toxins produced by algae
In addition to this routine testing, the Province subsidizes the cost of testing the water for further contaminants including:
- metals
- herbicides and pesticides
- PCBs
| What is being measured |
How it's measured |
Guideline or regulation |
Deacon Reservoir average |
Deacon Reservoir range |
Comments |
| Odour | units | Inoffensive | 115 | 60 to 200 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Geosmin | parts per trillion | no guideline | 5.5 | <0.6 to 20 | Common taste and odour compound |
| IPMP - 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.6 | <0.5 to <4 | Common taste and odour compound |
| IBMP - 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.6 | <0.5 to <4 | Common taste and odour compound |
| MIB - 2-methylisoborneol | parts per trillion | no guideline | 3.5 | <0.5 to <20 | Common taste and odour compound |
| 246 TCA - 2,4,6-trichloroanisole | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.6 | <0.5 to <4 | Common taste and odour compound |
| 236 TCA - 2,3,6-trichloroanisole | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.7 | <0.5 to 2.2 | Common taste and odour compound |
| 345 TCV - 3,4,5-trichloroveratrole | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.6 | <0.5 to <4 | Common taste and odour compound |
| MTBE - methyl tertiary-butyl ether | parts per million | no more than 0.015 | <0.8 | <0.5 to <1 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| NDMA - N-nitrosodimethylamine | parts per billion | under review | <2 | <1 to <5 | Guideline under review by Health Canada |
| Plankton (algae) count | cells per millilitre | no guideline | 13,668 | 1,200 to 49,500 | Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging |
| Chlorophyll-a | parts per billion | no guideline | 3 | <1 to 7 | Chlorophyll is found in algae |
| Microcystin LR | parts per billion | no more than 1.5 | <0.2 | <0.2 to 0.2 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Cryptosporidium | oocysts per 100 litres | no guideline | <1 | <1 to <1 | 18 samples taken in 2009 - no positive results |
| Giardia | cysts per 100 litres | no guideline | <1 | <1 to <1 | 18 samples taken in 2009 - no positive results |
| Turbidity (clearness) | Nephelometric turbidity units | no more than 1.0 | 0.69 | 0.27 to 1.27 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Colour, True | units | no more than 15 | 5 | 5 to 6 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Total Dissolved Solids | parts per million | no more than 500 | 104 | 88 to 114 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Conductivity | microsiemens per centimetre | no guideline | 157 | 144 to 176 | Another measure of dissolved solids |
| pH | units | between 6.5 and 8.5 | 7.99 | 7.70 to 8.28 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Temperature | degrees Celsius | no more than 15 | 10.4 | 0.0 to 20.5 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Total Alkalinity | parts per million as calcium carbonate | no guideline | 73.0 | 63.9 to 83.6 | - |
| Total Hardness | parts per million as calcium carbonate | between 80 and 100 | 81.8 | 76.8 to 89.0 | 80 to 100 parts per million is recommended |
| Total Organic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 9.7 | 8.0 to 17.0 | - |
| Total Inorganic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 16.2 | 14.8 to 19.0 | - |
| Total Phosphorus | parts per million | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.03 to <0.2 | Phosphorus can contribute to algae growth |
| Ammonia Dissolved | parts per million | no guideline | 0.049 | 0.007 to 0.144 | - |
| Nitrate Nitrogen | parts per million | no more than 10 | 0.011 | <0.005 to 0.011 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Chloride | parts per million | no more than 250 | 5.62 | 3.72 to 9.70 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Sulfate | parts per million | no more than 500 | 3.9 | 2.9 to 5.4 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Chlorine (total) | parts per million | no more than 3 | 0.09 | <0.05 to 0.21 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Chlorine (free) | parts per million | no guideline | 0.03 | <0.02 to 0.09 | - |
| Trihalomethanes | parts per billion | no more than 100 | 48 | 17 to 87 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Bromodichloromethanea | parts per billion | no more than 16 | 4 | 1 to 8 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Haloacetic acids | parts per billion | no more than 80 | 41 | 22 to 70 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Aldehydes | parts per billion | no guideline | 12 | 4 to 21 | - |
| Carbofuran | parts per billion | no more than 90 | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | Meets the guideline |
| Propoxur | parts per billion | no more than 0.7 | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | Meets the guideline |
| Aldrin | parts per billion | no more than 0.7 | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | Meets the guideline |
| Lindane (gamma-BHC) | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | - |
| alpha-Chlordane | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | - |
| gamma-Chlordane | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | - |
| p,p-DDT | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | - |
| Dieldrin | parts per billion | no more than 0.7 | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | Meets the guideline |
| Heptachlor | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | - |
| Heptachlor Epoxide | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | - |
| Methoxychlor | parts per billion | no more than 900 | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.04 | Meets the guideline |
| alpha-BHC | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.02 | - |
| beta-BHC | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.03 | - |
| delta-BHC | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | - |
| Captan | parts per billion | no guideline | <10 | <10 to <10 | - |
| p,p-DDD | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.03 | - |
| p,p-DDE | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | - |
| Endosulfan I | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | - |
| Endrin | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.02 | - |
| Mirex | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.02 | - |
| Simazine | parts per billion | no more than 10 | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.1 | Meets the guideline |
| Alachlor | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.2 | - |
| Atrazine | parts per billion | no more than 5 | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.1 | Meets the guideline |
| Bromacil | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | - |
| Metribuzin | parts per billion | no more than 80 | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | Meets the guideline |
| Azinphosmethyl | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.1 | <0.1 to <1 | Meets the guideline |
| Chlorpyrifos | parts per billion | no more than 90 | <0.1 | <0.02 to <0.1 | Meets the guideline |
| Diazinon | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.1 | <0.03 to <0.1 | Meets the guideline |
| Dimethoate | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.2 | Meets the guideline |
| Malathion | parts per billion | no more than 190 | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.2 | Meets the guideline |
| Parathion | parts per billion | no more than 50 | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.2 | Meets the guideline |
| Terbufos | parts per billion | no more than 1 | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.5 | Meets the guideline |
| Methyl Parathion | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.2 | - |
| 2,4-D | parts per billion | no more than 100 | <0.05 | <0.05 to <0.05 | Meets the guideline |
| 2,4-DB | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.05 | <0.05 to <0.05 | - |
| 2,4-DP | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.05 | <0.05 to <0.05 | - |
| 2,4,5-T | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.05 | <0.05 to <0.05 | - |
| 2,4,5-TP | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.05 | <0.05 to <0.05 | - |
| Bromoxynil | parts per billion | no more than 5 | <0.02 | <0.02 to <0.02 | Meets the guideline |
| Dicamba | parts per billion | no more than 120 | <0.006 | <0.006 to <0.02 | Meets the guideline |
| Dinoseb | parts per billion | no more than 10 | <0.05 | <0.05 to <0.05 | Meets the guideline |
| MCPA | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.025 | <0.025 to <0.05 | - |
| MCPB | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.05 | <0.05 to <0.05 | - |
| MCPP | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.05 | <0.05 to <0.05 | - |
| Trichlopyr | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.05 | <0.05 to <0.05 | - |
| Deltamethrin | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.04 | <0.04 to <0.04 | - |
| Diclofop-methyl | parts per billion | no more than 9 | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.1 | Meets the guideline |
| Eptam | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | - |
| Ethafluralin | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.02 | <0.02 to <0.02 | - |
| Propachlor | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | - |
| Propanil | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | - |
| Triallate | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.1 | - |
| Trifluralin | parts per billion | no more than 45 | <0.03 | <0.02 to <0.03 | Meets the guideline |
| Atrazine desethyl | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.1 | - |
| Cyanazine | parts per billion | no more than 10 | <0.5 | <0.5 to <0.5 | Meets the guideline |
| Chlorthalonil | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.06 | <0.06 to <0.06 | - |
| Arochlor 1016 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.02 | <0.02 to <0.1 | - |
| Arochlor 1221 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.02 | <0.02 to <0.1 | - |
| Arochlor 1232 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.02 | <0.02 to <0.1 | - |
| Arochlor 1242 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.02 | <0.02 to <0.1 | - |
| Arochlor 1248 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.02 | <0.02 to <0.1 | - |
| Arochlor 1254 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.02 | <0.02 to <0.1 | - |
| Arochlor 1260 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.02 | <0.02 to <0.1 | - |
| Calcium | parts per million | no guideline | 21.4 | 20.2 to 23.4 | Contributes to hardness |
| Magnesium | parts per million | no guideline | 6.03 | 5.72 to 6.66 | Contributes to hardness |
| Sodium | parts per million | no more than 200 | 2.1 | 2.0 to 2.3 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Potassium | parts per million | no guideline | 1.20 | 1.12 to 1.31 | - |
| Iron | parts per million | no more than 0.3 | 0.05 | 0.04 to 0.06 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Copper | parts per million | no more than 1.0 | 0.003 | <0.001 to 0.008 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Lead | parts per million | no more than 0.01 | <0.001 | <0.001 to <0.001 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Aluminum | parts per million | no more than 0.1 | 0.004 | 0.002 to 0.006 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Arsenic | parts per million | no more than 0.01 | <0.001 | <0.001 to 0.001 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Chromium | parts per million | no more than 0.05 | <0.001 | <0.001 to <0.001 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Nickel | parts per million | no guideline | <0.001 | <0.001 to 0.001 | - |
| Cadmium | parts per million | no more than 0.005 | <0.001 | <0.001 to <0.001 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Manganese | parts per million | no more than 0.05 | 0.007 | 0.002 to 0.015 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Zinc | parts per million | no more than 5.0 | 0.009 | <0.001 to 0.015 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Mercury | parts per million | no more than 0.001 | <0.000001 | 0.000001 to 0.000003 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Antimony | parts per million | no more than 0.006 | 0.00033 | <0.0002 to 0.00044 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Barium | parts per million | no more than 1 | 0.0171 | 0.0166 to 0.0181 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Beryllium | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0002 | <0.0002 to <0.0002 | - |
| Bismuth | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0002 | <0.0002 to <0.0002 | - |
| Boron | parts per million | no more than 5 | <0.01 | <0.01 to 0.012 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Cesium | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0001 | <0.0001 to <0.0001 | - |
| Cobalt | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0002 | <0.0002 to <0.0002 | - |
| Lithium | parts per million | no guideline | 0.00281 | 0.00240 to 0.00322 | - |
| Molybdenum | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0002 | <0.0001 to <0.0002 | - |
| Selenium | parts per million | no more than 0.01 | <0.001 | <0.0002 to <0.001 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Silicon | parts per million | no guideline | 0.46 | <0.3 to 0.79 | - |
| Silver | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0001 | <0.00005 to <0.001 | - |
| Strontium | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0412 | 0.0381 to 0.0450 | - |
| Tellurium | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0002 | <0.0002 to <0.0002 | - |
| Thallium | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0001 | <0.00002 to <0.0001 | - |
| Thorium | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0001 | <0.0001 to <0.0001 | - |
| Tin | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0006 | <0.0002 to <0.0006 | - |
| Titanium | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0009 | <0.0002 to 0.00111 | - |
| Uranium | parts per million | no more than 0.02 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 to <0.0001 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Vanadium | parts per million | no guideline | 0.00028 | <0.0002 to 0.00043 | - |
| Zirconium | parts per million | no more than 0.1 | <0.0004 | <0.0004 to <0.002 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
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This page was last updated on April 15, 2024 |
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