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2013 Water Treatment Plant raw water quality test results

Image of Deacon ReservoirThe 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

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