2011 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	98	60 to 200	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Geosmin	parts per trillion	no guideline	1.7	<0.5 to 6	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	0.58	<0.5 to 1.3	Common taste and odour compound
246 TCA - 2,4,6-trichloroanisole	parts per trillion	no guideline	<0.5	<0.5 to <2.0	Common taste and odour compound
236 TCA - 2,3,6-trichloroanisole	parts per trillion	no guideline	<0.5	<0.5 to <1.0	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	0.0027	<0.002 to 0.0066	Guideline under review by Health Canada
Plankton (algae) count	cells/mL	no guideline	33,143	900 to 344700	Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging
Chlorophyll-a	parts per billion	no guideline	7	1 to 22	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 L	no guideline	<1	<1 to <1	12 samples taken in 2011 - no positive results
Giardia *	cysts per 100 L	no guideline	<1	<1 to <1	12 samples taken in 2011 - no positive results
Turbidity (clearness)	NTU	no guideline	1.21	0.44 to 3.95	-
Colour, True	TCU	no more than 15	5.5	0.5 to 15	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Total Solids	parts per million	no guideline	105	80 to 124	-
Total Dissolved Solids	parts per million	no more than 500	90	70 to 107	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Conductivity	microsiemens per centimetre	no guideline	158	122 to 177	Another measure of dissolved solids
pH	units	between 6.5 and 8.5	8.00	7.41 to 8.82	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Temperature	degrees Celcius	no more than 15	10.1	1 to 24.1	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Total Alkalinity	parts per million as calcium carbonate	no guideline	75	66 to 82	-
Total Hardness	parts per million as calcium carbonate	between 80 and 100	78	71 to 85	80 to 100 parts per million is recommended
Total Organic Carbon	parts per million	no guideline	11	8 to 15	-
Dissolved Organic Carbon	parts per million	no guideline	10	8 to 14	-
Total Inorganic Carbon	parts per million	no guideline	13.7	<1.0 to 19	-
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	0.020	<0.010 to 0.058	-
Nitrate Nitrogen	parts per million	no more than 10	0.031	0.02 to 0.053	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Chloride	parts per million	no more than 250	<5	<5 to <5	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Sulphate	parts per million	no more than 500	<5	<5 to 5	Raw water - guideline does not apply
UV Transmittance (Filtered)	percent transmissivity	no guideline	75.8	71.6 to 93.3	-
UV Transmittance (Unfiltered)	percent transmissivity	no guideline	73.3	69 to 77	-
Chlorine (free)	parts per million	no guideline	0.02	<0.02 to 0.18	-
Chlorine (total)	parts per million	no guideline	0.04	<0.02 to 0.2	-
Trihalomethanes	parts per billion	no more than 100	<0.5	<0.5 to 1.1	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Bromodichloromethane	parts per billion	no more than 16	<0.5	<0.5 to <0.5	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Haloacetic acids	parts per billion	no more than 80	<5	<5 to 13	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Aldehydes	parts per billion	no guideline	3	<2 to 9	-
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	Meets the guideline
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	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	22.2	21.5 to 22.7	Contributes to hardness
Magnesium	parts per million	no guideline	6.27	5.63 to 6.84	Contributes to hardness
Sodium	parts per million	no more than 200	2.2	1.8 to 4.4	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Potassium	parts per million	no guideline	1.25	1.12 to 1.35	-
Iron	parts per million	no more than 0.3	0.05	0.01 to 0.15	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Copper	parts per million	no more than 1.0	0.00051	0.00041 to 0.00068	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Lead	parts per million	no more than 0.010	<0.000090	<0.000090 to <0.000090	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Aluminum	parts per million	no more than 0.1	0.0054	<0.0050 to 0.008	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Arsenic	parts per million	no more than 0.010	0.00074	0.00057 to 0.00097	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	0.0091	0.00327 to 0.019	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 <0.00020	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Barium	parts per million	no more than 1	0.0155	0.0138 to 0.0178	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	0.012	<0.010 to 0.025	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	0.0017	<0.0020 to 0.0026	-
Molybdenum	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00020	<0.00020 to <0.00020	-
Rubidium	parts per million	no guideline	0.00167	0.00153 to 0.00184	-
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	0.623	0.296 to 1.47	-
Silver	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00010	<0.00010 to <0.00010	-
Strontium	parts per million	no guideline	0.0402	0.0373 to 0.0444	-
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	0.00031	<0.00020 to 0.00094	-
Titanium	parts per million	no guideline	0.00013	<0.00020 to 0.00022	-
Tungsten	parts per million	no guideline	<0.0010	<0.0010 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	<0.00020	<0.00020 to <0.00020	-
Zirconium	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00040	<0.00040 to <0.00040	-

Guidelines from 'Summary of Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality' by Health Canada, revised February 1, 2012

* Data reported was collected from Deacon Prechlorination Cell 1/3