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2023 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 December 31, 2023
What is being measured | How it's measured | Water Treatment Plant raw average | Water Treatment Plant raw range | ||
Miscellaneous | |||||
Carbon, Dissolved Organic | parts per million | 8.6 | 6.3 to 14.5 | ||
Carbon, Total Organic | parts per million | 8.7 | 6.8 to 15.6 | ||
Chlorine, Free | parts per million | 0.02 | <0.02 to 0.10 | ||
Chlorine, Total | parts per million | 0.03 | <0.02 to 0.12 | ||
Chlorophyll-a | parts per billion | 4.8 | <1.0 to 13.4 | ||
Colour, Apparent | TCU | 15.5 | 10.0 to 24.0 | ||
Colour, True | TCU | 9.8 | 5.0 to 14.0 | ||
Conductivity | microsiemens per centimetre | 166 | 154 to 182 | ||
Langelier Index (4 C) | units | -0.43 | -0.56 to -0.32 | ||
Langelier Index (60 C) | units | 0.35 | 0.22 to 0.45 | ||
Microcystin | parts per billion | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | ||
Odour | units | 92 | 70 to 150 | ||
ORP | millivolts | 442.0 | 294.1 to 558.8 | ||
Oxygen, Dissolved | parts per million | 10.6 | 7.1 to 13.5 | ||
pH | units | 7.83 | 6.98 to 8.50 | ||
Plankton (algae) count | cells/mL | 25,456 | <100 to 213,200 | ||
Solids, Total | parts per million | 113 | 99 to 172 | ||
Solids, Total Dissolved | parts per million | 94 | 60 to 144 | ||
Temperature | degrees Celcius | 9.9 | 1.2 to 23.4 | ||
Turbidity (clearness) | NTU | 0.88 | 0.37 to 3.13 | ||
UV Transmittance, Filtered | percent transmissivity | 72.9 | 67.6 to 78.7 | ||
UV Transmittance, Unfiltered | percent transmissivity | 71.0 | 65.8 to 76.7 | ||
Anions and Nutrients | |||||
Alkalinity, Total | parts per million as calcium carbonate | 75.4 | 64.6 to 83.6 | ||
Alkalinity, Bicarbonate | parts per million | 83.5 | 71.5 to 100.0 | ||
Alkalinity, Carbonate | parts per million | <0.60 | <0.60 to <1.0 | ||
Alkalinity, Hydroxide | parts per million | <0.34 | <0.34 to <1.0 | ||
Hardness, Total | parts per million as calcium carbonate | 81.4 | 73.8 to 99.6 | ||
Ammonia | parts per million | 0.02 | <0.01 to 0.05 | ||
Bromide | parts per million | <0.050 | <0.010 to <0.050 | ||
Chloride | parts per million | 2.1 | 1.3 to 2.9 | ||
Fluoride | parts per million | 0.060 | 0.057 to 0.063 | ||
Nitrate Nitrogen | parts per million | 0.033 | <0.0050 to 0.079 | ||
Nitrite | parts per million | 0.002 | <0.0010 to 0.006 | ||
Perchlorate | parts per billion | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | ||
Phosphorus,Total | parts per million | <0.030 | <0.030 to <0.050 | ||
Sulphate | parts per million | <0.4 | <0.4 to 0.7 | ||
Disinfection By-Products | |||||
Haloacetic acids | parts per billion | <1.2 | <1.2 to <1.2 | ||
Trihalomethanes | parts per billion | <2.7 | <2.7 to <2.7 | ||
Enteric Protozoa | |||||
Cryptosporidium | oocysts per 100 L | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.1 | ||
Giardia | cysts per 100 L | <0.1 | <0.1 to <0.1 | ||
Total Metals | |||||
Aluminum | parts per million | 0.00250 | 0.00103 to 0.01413 | ||
Antimony | parts per million | 0.000086 | <0.000025 to 0.000225 | ||
Arsenic | parts per million | 0.000891 | 0.000484 to 0.001403 | ||
Barium | parts per million | 0.0158 | 0.0144 to 0.0183 | ||
Beryllium | parts per million | <0.00010 | <0.00002 to <0.00010 | ||
Bismuth | parts per million | <0.000050 | <0.000050 to <0.000050 | ||
Boron | parts per million | 0.01139 | 0.00803 to 0.01800 | ||
Cadmium | parts per million | <0.000005 | <0.000005 to <0.000007 | ||
Calcium | parts per million | 20.570 | 16.667 to 25.757 | ||
Cesium | parts per million | <0.000010 | <0.000010 to <0.000010 | ||
Chromium | parts per million | <0.000040 | <0.000040 to <0.00050 | ||
Chromium VI | parts per million | <0.00050 | <0.00050 to <0.00050 | ||
Cobalt | parts per million | <0.00010 | <0.00010 to <0.00010 | ||
Copper | parts per million | 0.000450 | 0.000091 to 0.002240 | ||
Iron | parts per million | 0.07874 | 0.01865 to 0.33450 | ||
Lead | parts per million | <0.000050 | <0.000050 to <0.000065 | ||
Lithium | parts per million | 0.0023 | 0.0017 to 0.0025 | ||
Magnesium | parts per million | 6.187 | 5.066 to 7.260 | ||
Manganese | parts per million | 0.01230 | 0.00289 to 0.06894 | ||
Mercury | parts per billion | <0.0050 | <0.0050 to <0.0050 | ||
Molybdenum | parts per million | 0.000163 | 0.000142 to 0.000189 | ||
Nickel | parts per million | 0.000299 | <0.000021 to 0.000640 | ||
Potassium | parts per million | 1.245 | 0.970 to 1.472 | ||
Rubidium | parts per million | 0.0018 | 0.0016 to 0.0020 | ||
Selenium | parts per million | 0.000076 | <0.000050 to 0.000122 | ||
Silicon | parts per million | 1.98 | 0.51 to 3.63 | ||
Silver | parts per million | <0.000010 | <0.000010 to <0.000010 | ||
Sodium | parts per million | 2.334 | 1.983 to 2.685 | ||
Strontium | parts per million | 0.0406 | 0.0369 to 0.0438 | ||
Tellurium | parts per million | <0.00020 | <0.00020 to <0.00020 | ||
Thallium | parts per million | <0.000010 | <0.000010 to <0.000010 | ||
Thorium | parts per million | <0.00010 | <0.00010 to <0.00010 | ||
Tin | parts per million | <0.00010 | <0.00010 to <0.00010 | ||
Titanium | parts per million | <0.00030 | <0.00030 to <0.00030 | ||
Tungsten | parts per million | <0.00010 | <0.00010 to <0.00010 | ||
Uranium | parts per million | 0.000048 | <0.000032 to 0.000116 | ||
Vanadium | parts per million | <0.00050 | <0.00050 to <0.00050 | ||
Zinc | parts per million | 0.00065 | <0.00011 to 0.00459 | ||
Zirconium | parts per million | <0.00020 | <0.00020 to <0.00020 | ||
Pesticides | |||||
Alachlor | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Aldrin | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
alpha-HCH | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
alpha-Chlordane | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
alpha-Endosulfan | parts per billion | <0.0070 | <0.0070 to <0.0070 | ||
Atrazine | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Azinphos-methyl | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
beta-HCH | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
beta-Endosulfan | parts per billion | <0.0070 | <0.0070 to <0.0070 | ||
Carbaryl | parts per billion | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | ||
Carbofuran | parts per billion | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | ||
Chlorpyrifos | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
delta-HCH | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
Diazinon | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Diclofop-methyl | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Dieldrin | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
Dimethoate | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Endrin | parts per billion | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.010 | ||
Eptam | parts per billion | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | ||
gamma-Chlordane | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
Heptachlor | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
Heptachlor Epoxide | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
Lindane (gamma-HCH) | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
Malathion | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Methoxychlor | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
Methyl Parathion | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Metribuzin | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Mirex | parts per billion | <0.0080 | <0.0080 to <0.0080 | ||
o,p-DDD | parts per billion | <0.0040 | <0.0040 to <0.0040 | ||
o,p-DDE | parts per billion | <0.0040 | <0.0040 to <0.0040 | ||
o,p-DDT | parts per billion | <0.0040 | <0.0040 to <0.0040 | ||
p,p-DDD | parts per billion | <0.0040 | <0.0040 to <0.0040 | ||
p,p-DDE | parts per billion | <0.0040 | <0.0040 to <0.0040 | ||
p,p-DDT | parts per billion | <0.0040 | <0.0040 to <0.0040 | ||
Parathion | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Propaclor | parts per billion | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | ||
Propanil | parts per billion | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | ||
Propoxur | parts per billion | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | ||
Simazine | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Terbufos | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Triallate | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Trichlopyr | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.050 to <0.50 | ||
Trifluralin | parts per billion | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | ||
Bacteria | |||||
Escherichia Coli | MPN per 100 mL | 28 | <1 to >200 | ||
Total Coliforms | MPN per 100 mL | 89 | <1 to >200 | ||
Heterotrophic Plate Count | CFU per mL | 151 | 6 to >300 | ||
Taste and Odours | |||||
Dichloromethane | parts per billion | <1.0 | <1.0 to <1.0 | ||
MTBE - methyl tertiary-butyl ether | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.50 to <0.50 | ||
NDMA - N-nitrosodimethylamine | parts per billion | <0.033 | <0.033 to <0.10 | ||
Polychlorinated Biphenyls | |||||
Arochlor 1016 | parts per billion | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | ||
Arochlor 1221 | parts per billion | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | ||
Arochlor 1232 | parts per billion | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | ||
Arochlor 1242 | parts per billion | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | ||
Arochlor 1248 | parts per billion | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | ||
Arochlor 1254 | parts per billion | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | ||
Arochlor 1260 | parts per billion | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | ||
Phenoxy Acid Herbicides | |||||
2,4,5-T | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.050 to <0.50 | ||
2,4,5-TP | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.050 to <0.50 | ||
2,4-D | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.050 to <0.50 | ||
2,4-DB | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.050 to <0.50 | ||
2,4-DP | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.050 to <0.50 | ||
Bromoxynil | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.050 to <0.50 | ||
Dicamba | parts per billion | <1.0 | <0.10 to <1.0 | ||
Dinoseb | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.050 to <0.50 | ||
MCPA | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.050 to <0.50 | ||
MCPB | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.050 to <0.50 | ||
Mecoprop | parts per billion | <0.50 | <0.050 to <0.50 | ||
Picloram | parts per billion | <1.0 | <0.10 to <1.0 |
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.
Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality do not appply to raw water.