2010 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 continuous 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
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 | Water Treatment Plant raw average | Water Treatment Plant raw range | Comments |
| Odour | units | Inoffensive | 95 | 40 to 200 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Geosmin* | parts per trillion | no guideline | 5.7 | <0.5 to 71 | Common taste and odour compound |
| IPMP - 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine* | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.5 | <0.5 to <0.5 | Common taste and odour compound |
| IBMP - 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine* | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.5 | <0.5 to <0.5 | Common taste and odour compound |
| MIB - 2-methylisoborneol* | parts per trillion | no guideline | <1.0 | <0.5 to 2.0 | Common taste and odour compound |
| 246 TCA - 2,4,6-trichloroanisole* | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.5 | <0.5 to <1.2 | Common taste and odour compound |
| 236 TCA - 2,3,6-trichloroanisole* | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.5 | <0.5 to <0.8 | Common taste and odour compound |
| 345 TCV - 3,4,5-trichloroveratrole* | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.5 | <0.5 to <0.5 | Common taste and odour compound |
| MTBE - methyl tertiary-butyl ether* | parts per million | no more than 0.015 | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to <0.0005 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| NDMA - N-nitrosodimethylamine* | parts per billion | under review | 0.0024 | 0.0006 to 0.0064 | Guideline under review by Health Canada |
| Plankton (algae) count | cells per millilitre | no guideline | 36,156 | 1,200 to 215,200 | Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging |
| Chlorophyll-a** | parts per billion | no guideline | 5 | <1 to 30 | 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 | 15 samples taken in 2010 - no positive results |
| Giardia** | cysts per 100 litres | no guideline | <1 | <1 to <1 | 15 samples taken in 2010 - no positive results |
| Turbidity (clearness) | Nephelometric turbidity units | no guideline | 1.27 | 0.17 to 5.40 | - |
| Colour, Apparent | Apparent colour units | no guideline | 3.8 | 2.5 to 17.5 | - |
| Total Solids | parts per million | no guideline | 107 | 66 to 284 | - |
| Total Dissolved Solids | parts per million | no more than 500 | 94 | 60 to 136 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Conductivity | microsiemens per centimetre | no guideline | 155 | 139 to 173 | Another measure of dissolved solids |
| pH | units | between 6.5 and 8.5 | 8.04 | 7.47 to 8.72 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Temperature | degrees Celcius | no more than 15 | 9.8 | 0.0 to 24.0 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Total Alkalinity | parts per million as calcium carbonate | no guideline | 73 | 68 to 78 | - |
| Total Hardness | parts per million as calcium carbonate | between 80 and 100 | 77 | 70 to 84 | 80 to 100 parts per million is recommended |
| Total Organic Carbon* | parts per million | no guideline | 10 | 7 to 27 | - |
| Dissolved Organic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 9 | 6 to 26 | - |
| Total Inorganic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 15.8 | 13.6 to 17.9 | - |
| Total Phosphorus* | parts per million | no guideline | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | Phosphorus can contribute to algae growth |
| Ammonia Dissolved* | parts per million | no guideline | 0.043 | 0.024 to 0.109 | - |
| Nitrate Nitrogen* | parts per million | no more than 10 | <0.050 | <0.050 to <0.050 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Chloride | parts per million | no more than 250 | <5 | <5 to 6 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Sulfate | parts per million | no more than 500 | <5 | <5 to <5 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| UV Transmittance (Filtered) | percent transmissivity | no guideline | 77.5 | 72.9 to 94.7 | - |
| UV Transmittance (Unfiltered) | percent transmissivity | no guideline | 75.6 | 69.4 to 94.3 | - |
| Chlorine (free) | parts per million | no guideline | 0.02 | <0.02 to 0.10 | - |
| Chlorine (total) | parts per million | no guideline | 0.06 | <0.02 to 0.22 | - |
| Trihalomethanes | parts per billion | no more than 100 | 22 | <0.5 to 95 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Haloacetic acids | parts per billion | no more than 80 | 12 | <5 to 50 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Aldehydes* | parts per billion | no guideline | <2 | <2 to 6 | - |
| Tetrachloroethylene* | parts per billion | no more than 30 | <0.50 | <0.50 to <0.50 | Meets the guideline |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.50 | <0.50 to <0.50 | - |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.50 | <0.50 to <0.50 | - |
| Trichloroethylene* | parts per billion | no more than 5 | <0.50 | <0.50 to <0.50 | Meets the guideline |
| Carbofuran* | parts per billion | no more than 90 | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | Meets the guideline |
| Propoxur* | parts per billion | no more than 0.7 | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | Meets the guideline |
| Aldrin* | parts per billion | no more than 0.7 | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.010 | Meets the guideline |
| Lindane (gamma-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 | - |
| gamma-Chlordane* | 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 | - |
| Dieldrin* | parts per billion | no more than 0.7 | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.010 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | - |
| Methoxychlor* | parts per billion | no more than 900 | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.010 | Meets the guideline |
| alpha-BHC* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.010 | - |
| beta-BHC* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.010 | - |
| delta-BHC* | 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 | - |
| 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 | - |
| Alpha Endosulfan* | 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 | - |
| Endrin* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.010 | - |
| Mirex* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.010 | - |
| Simazine* | parts per billion | no more than 10 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Alachlor* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | - |
| Atrazine* | parts per billion | no more than 5 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Metribuzin* | parts per billion | no more than 80 | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | Meets the guideline |
| Azinphosmethyl* | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Chlorpyrifos* | parts per billion | no more than 90 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Diazinon* | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Dimethoate* | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Malathion* | parts per billion | no more than 190 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Parathion* | parts per billion | no more than 50 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Terbufos* | parts per billion | no more than 1 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Methyl Parathion* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | - |
| 2,4-D* | parts per billion | no more than 100 | <0.050 | <0.050 to <0.050 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | - |
| 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 | - |
| Bromoxynil* | parts per billion | no more than 5 | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | Meets the guideline |
| Dicamba* | parts per billion | no more than 120 | <0.0060 | <0.0060 to <0.0060 | Meets the guideline |
| Dinoseb* | parts per billion | no more than 10 | <0.050 | <0.050 to <0.050 | Meets the guideline |
| MCPA* | parts per billion | no more than 100 | <0.025 | <0.025 to <0.025 | - |
| MCPB* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.050 | <0.050 to <0.050 | - |
| Mecoprop* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.060 | <0.060 to <0.060 | - |
| Picloram* | parts per billion | no more than 190 | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | Meets the guideline |
| Trichlopyr* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.050 | <0.050 to <0.050 | - |
| Diclofop-methyl* | parts per billion | no more than 9 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Eptam* | 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 | - |
| Triallate* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | - |
| Trifluralin* | parts per billion | no more than 45 | <0.030 | <0.030 to <0.030 | Meets the guideline |
| Arochlor 1016* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | - |
| Arochlor 1221* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | - |
| Arochlor 1232* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | - |
| Arochlor 1242* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | - |
| Arochlor 1248* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | - |
| Arochlor 1254* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | - |
| Arochlor 1260* | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.020 | <0.020 to <0.020 | - |
| Calcium* | parts per million | no guideline | 21.1 | 18.3 to 24.0 | Contributes to hardness |
| Magnesium* | parts per million | no guideline | 5.94 | 5.22 to 6.99 | Contributes to hardness |
| Sodium | parts per million | no more than 200 | 23.0 | 1.8 to 4.7 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Potassium* | parts per million | no guideline | 1.24 | 1.10 to 1.39 | - |
| Iron | parts per million | no more than 0.3 | 0.05 | <0.01 to 0.23 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Copper* | parts per million | no more than 1.0 | 0.00252 | <0.00100 to 0.00581 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Lead* | parts per million | no more than 0.010 | <0.000090 | <0.000090 to 0.000188 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Aluminum* | parts per million | no more than 0.1 | 0.0119 | 0.0062 to 0.0152 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Arsenic* | parts per million | no more than 0.010 | 0.00084 | 0.00065 to 0.00100 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Chromium* | parts per million | no more than 0.05 | <0.0010 | <0.0010 to <0.0010 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Nickel* | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0020 | <0.0020 to <0.0020 | - |
| Cadmium* | parts per million | no more than 0.005 | <0.000010 | <0.000010 to <0.000010 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Manganese* | parts per million | no more than 0.05 | 0.0134 | 0.0070 to 0.0231 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Zinc* | parts per million | no more than 5.0 | <0.0050 | <0.0050 to <0.0050 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Mercury** | parts per million | no more than 0.001 | <0.000001 | <0.000001 to <0.000001 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Antimony* | parts per million | no more than 0.006 | <0.00020 | <0.00020 to 0.00021 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Barium* | parts per million | no more than 1 | 0.0149 | 0.0138 to 0.0165 | 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 | 0.028 | <0.010 to 0.103 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Cesium* | parts per million | no guideline | <0.00010 | <0.00010 to <0.00010 | - |
| Cobalt* | parts per million | no guideline | <0.00020 | <0.00020 to <0.00020 | - |
| Lithium* | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0028 | <0.0020 to 0.0048 | - |
| Molybdenum* | parts per million | no guideline | <0.00020 | <0.00020 to <0.00020 | - |
| Rubidium* | parts per million | no guideline | 0.00178 | 0.00157 to 0.00196 | - |
| Selenium* | parts per million | no more than 0.01 | <0.0010 | <0.0010 to <0.0010 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Silicon* | parts per million | no guideline | 0.801 | 0.139 to 2.040 | - |
| Silver* | parts per million | no guideline | <0.00010 | <0.00010 to <0.00010 | - |
| Strontium* | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0386 | 0.0349 to 0.0433 | - |
| 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 | 0.00033 | <0.00020 to 0.00106 | - |
| Titanium* | parts per million | no guideline | 0.00040 | <0.00020 to 0.00069 | - |
| Tungsten* | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0010 | <0.00020 to <0.0010 | - |
| Uranium* | parts per million | no more than 0.02 | <0.00010 | <0.00010 to <0.00010 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Vanadium* | parts per million | no guideline | 0.00021 | <0.00020 to 0.00055 | - |
| Zirconium* | parts per million | no guideline | <0.00040 | <0.00040 to <0.00040 | - |
Last updated: December 8, 2020