2013 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 | 112 | 60 to 200 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Methylene Chloride | parts per billion | no guideline | 0.6 | <0.5 to <2.0 | - |
| Perchlorate | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | - |
| Geosmin | parts per trillion | no guideline | 2.5 | <0.5 to 8.0 | Common taste and odour compound |
| IPMP - 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.5 | Common taste and odour compound |
| IBMP - 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.5 | Common taste and odour compound |
| MIB - 2-methylisoborneol | parts per trillion | no guideline | 3.1 | <0.7 to <10 | 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 | <0.2 | <0.2 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 | no more than 0.04 | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to 0.0007 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Plankton (algae) count | cells/mL | no guideline | 21,767 | 700 to 169,700 | Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging |
| Chlorophyll-a | parts per billion | no guideline | 6 | <1 to 16 | Chlorophyll is found in algae |
| Microcystin LR | parts per billion | no more than 1.5 | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.5 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Cryptosporidium | oocysts per 100 L | no guideline | <1 | <1 to <1 | 13 samples taken in 2013 - no positive results |
| Giardia | cysts per 100 L | no guideline | <1 | <1 to <1 | 13 samples taken in 2013 - no positive results |
| Turbidity (clearness) | NTU | no guideline | 1.13 | 0.25 to 5.78 | - |
| Colour, True | TCU | no more than 15 * | 5.7 | 1.0 to 11.0 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Total Solids | parts per million | no guideline | 112 | 102 to 122 | - |
| Total Dissolved Solids | parts per million | no more than 500 * | 100 | 81 to 114 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Conductivity | microsiemens per centimetre | no guideline | 167 | 153 to 184 | Another measure of dissolved solids |
| pH | units | between 6.5 and 8.5 | 7.88 | 7.13 to 8.50 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Temperature | degrees Celcius | no more than 15 * | 9.3 | 0.4 to 24.1 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Total Alkalinity | parts per million as calcium carbonate | no guideline | 82 | 69 to 89 | - |
| Total Hardness | parts per million as calcium carbonate | between 80 and 100 | 81 | 71 to 89 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Total Organic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 18 | 18 to 18 | - |
| Dissolved Organic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 16 | 12 to 19 | - |
| Total Inorganic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 17.8 | 16.2 to 20.1 | - |
| Dissolved Oxygen | parts per million | no guideline | 10.3 | 8.0 to 13.2 | - |
| Total Phosphorus | parts per million | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Phosphorus can contribute to algae growth |
| Ammonia | parts per million | no guideline | 0.014 | <0.010 to 0.041 | - |
| Nitrate Nitrogen | parts per million | no more than 10 | 0.025 | <0.005 to 0.057 | 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 Absorbance (Unfiltered) | units per centimeter | no guideline | 0.115 | 0.106 to 0.123 | - |
| UV Transmittance (Filtered) | percent transmissivity | no guideline | 79.4 | 76.2 to 94.8 | - |
| UV Transmittance (Unfiltered) | percent transmissivity | no guideline | 77.1 | 72.6 to 81.5 | - |
| Chlorine (free) | parts per million | no guideline | 0.02 | <0.02 to 0.09 | - |
| Chlorine (total) | parts per million | no guideline | 0.03 | <0.02 to 0.11 | - |
| Trihalomethanes | parts per billion | no more than 100 | <0.5 | <0.5 to <0.5 | 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 | <1 to 12 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Aldehydes | parts per billion | no guideline | 2 | <2 to 10 | - |
| Carbofuran | parts per billion | no more than 90 | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Propoxur | parts per billion | no more than 0.7 | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Aldrin | parts per billion | no more than 0.7 | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.010 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| 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 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| 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 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| 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 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| 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 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Metribuzin | parts per billion | no more than 80 | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Azinphosmethyl | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Chlorothalonil | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.060 | <0.060 to <0.060 | - |
| Chlorpyrifos | parts per billion | no more than 90 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Diazinon | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Dimethoate | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Malathion | parts per billion | no more than 190 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Parathion | parts per billion | no more than 50 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Terbufos | parts per billion | no more than 1 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| 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 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| 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 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Dicamba | parts per billion | no more than 120 | <0.0060 | <0.0060 to <0.0060 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Dinoseb | parts per billion | no more than 10 | <0.050 | <0.050 to <0.050 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| MCPA | parts per billion | no more than 100 | <0.025 | <0.025 to <0.025 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| 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 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| 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 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| 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 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| 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 | 21.0 | 16.8 to 23.6 | Contributes to hardness |
| Magnesium | parts per million | no guideline | 5.9 | 5.1 to 6.6 | Contributes to hardness |
| Sodium | parts per million | no more than 200 | 2.1 | 1.8 to 2.2 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Potassium | parts per million | no guideline | 1.2 | 1.0 to 1.3 | - |
| Iron | parts per million | no more than 0.3 * | 0.04 | <0.01 to 0.08 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Copper | parts per million | no more than 1.0 * | 0.001 | <0.001 to 0.007 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Lead | parts per million | no more than 0.010 | <0.001 | <0.001 to 0.003 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Aluminum | parts per million | no more than 0.1 | 0.003 | <0.001 to 0.019 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Arsenic | parts per million | no more than 0.010 | <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 |
| Chromium IV | parts per | no guideline | <0.01 | <0.01 to <0.01 | - |
| Nickel | parts per million | no guideline | 0.008 | <0.001 to 0.085 | - |
| Cadmium | parts per million | no more than 0.005 | <0.001 | <0.001 to 0.002 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Manganese | parts per million | no more than 0.05 * | 0.012 | 0.002 to 0.033 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Zinc | parts per million | no more than 5.0 * | <0.001 | <0.001 to <0.003 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Mercury | parts per million | no more than 0.001 | 0.000001 | <0.000001 to 0.000004 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Antimony | parts per million | no more than 0.006 | 0.004 | <0.001 to <0.02 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Barium | parts per million | no more than 1 | 0.0176 | 0.0160 to 0.0191 | 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 | 0.013 | 0.009 to 0.019 | 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 | 0.0025 | 0.0021 to 0.0030 | - |
| Molybdenum | parts per million | no guideline | <0.00020 | <0.00020 to <0.00020 | - |
| Rubidium | parts per million | no guideline | 0.00176 | 0.00157 to 0.00201 | - |
| 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 | 1.32 | 0.87 to 2.32 | - |
| Silver | parts per million | no guideline | <0.00010 | <0.00010 to <0.00010 | - |
| Strontium | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0407 | 0.0370 to 0.0454 | - |
| 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 | <0.00020 | <0.00020 to <0.00020 | - |
| Titanium | parts per million | no guideline | <0.00050 | <0.00020 to <0.00050 | - |
| Tungsten | parts per million | no guideline | <0.00010 | <0.00010 to <0.00010 | - |
| 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 | 0.00026 | <0.00020 to 0.00031 | - |
| Zirconium | parts per million | no guideline | <0.00040 | <0.00040 to <0.00040 | - |
* Aesthetic Objective: These guidelines have an objective and not a maximum acceptable limit. These parameters should not impact the safety of the water to drink and there are no anticipated health risk for short-term exposures.
Guidelines from 'Summary of Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality' by Health Canada, revised March 21, 2014.
Last updated: December 7, 2020