2015 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
Test results are from January 1 to December 31, 2015
| 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 | 123 | 75 to 200 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Methylene Chloride (Dichloromethane) | parts per billion | no more than 50 | <0.5 | <0.5 to <1.0 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Perchlorate | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | - |
| Geosmin | parts per trillion | no guideline | 12.1 | 2.0 to 41.8 | Common taste and odour compound |
| IPMP - 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | Common taste and odour compound |
| IBMP - 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | Common taste and odour compound |
| MIB - 2-methylisoborneol | parts per trillion | no guideline | <10 | <10 to <50 | Common taste and odour compound |
| 246 TCA - 2,4,6-trichloroanisole | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.5 | <0.5 to <0.5 | Common taste and odour compound |
| 236 TCA - 2,3,6-trichloroanisole | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.5 | <0.5 to <0.5 | Common taste and odour compound |
| 345 TCV - 3,4,5-trichloroveratrole | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | 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 <0.0009 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Plankton (algae) count | cells/mL | no guideline | 30,982 | 4,000 to 135,400 | Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging |
| Chlorophyll-a | parts per billion | no guideline | 7 | 2 to 18 | 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 | 1.5 | <0.6 to 5.6 | 12 samples taken in 2015 - 2 positive results |
| Giardia | cysts per 100 L | no guideline | 1.2 | <0.6 to 5.0 | 12 samples taken in 2015 - 1 positive result |
| Turbidity (clearness) | NTU | no guideline | 1.05 | 0.32 to 3.76 | - |
| Colour, True | TCU | no more than 15 * | 5.6 | 1.0 to 10.0 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Total Solids | parts per million | no guideline | 113 | 92 to 157 | - |
| Total Dissolved Solids | parts per million | no more than 500 * | 102 | 61 to 139 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Conductivity | microsiemens per centimetre | no guideline | 166 | 146 to 190 | Another measure of dissolved solids |
| pH | units | between 6.5 and 8.5 * | 8.12 | 7.61 to 8.58 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Temperature | degrees Celcius | no more than 15 * | 10.7 | 1.0 to 23.6 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Total Alkalinity | parts per million as calcium carbonate | no guideline | 74 | 68 to 88 | - |
| Total Hardness | parts per million as calcium carbonate | no guideline | 80 | 73 to 94 | - |
| Total Organic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 9 | 6 to 14 | - |
| Dissolved Organic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 9 | 6 to 14 | - |
| Total Inorganic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 17 | 15 to 19 | - |
| Dissolved Oxygen | parts per million | no guideline | 10.7 | 7.2 to 13.6 | - |
| Total Phosphorus | parts per million | no guideline | 0.036 | 0.007 to <0.100 | Phosphorus can contribute to algae growth |
| Ammonia | parts per million | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.010 | - |
| Nitrate Nitrogen | parts per million | no more than 10 | 0.0107 | <0.0050 to 0.0308 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Bromide | parts per million | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | - |
| Chloride | parts per million | no more than 250 * | 3.0 | 1.4 to 6.2 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Sulphate | parts per million | no more than 500 * | 2.2 | <2.0 to 6.1 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| UV Absorbance (Unfiltered) | units per centimeter | no guideline | 0.125 | 0.104 to 0.193 | - |
| UV Transmittance (Filtered) | percent transmissivity | no guideline | 77.3 | 72.5 to 80.4 | - |
| UV Transmittance (Unfiltered) | percent transmissivity | no guideline | 75.1 | 71.2 to 78.7 | - |
| Chlorine (free) | parts per million | no guideline | 0.02 | <0.02 to 0.08 | - |
| Chlorine (total) | parts per million | no guideline | 0.03 | <0.02 to 0.10 | - |
| Trihalomethanes | parts per billion | no more than 100 | <1 | <1 to <2 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Bromodichloromethane | parts per billion | no guideline | <1 | <1 to <1 | - |
| Haloacetic acids | parts per billion | no more than 80 | 3 | <3 to 7 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Aldehydes | parts per billion | no guideline | 3 | 1 to 8 | - |
| Carbofuran | parts per billion | no more than 90 | <0.20 | <0.20 to <1.0 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Propoxur | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | - |
| Aldrin | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| Lindane (gamma-BHC) | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| alpha-Chlordane | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| gamma-Chlordane | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| p,p-DDT | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| Dieldrin | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| Heptachlor | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| Heptachlor Epoxide | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| Methoxychlor | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| alpha-BHC | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| beta-BHC | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| delta-BHC | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| p,p-DDD | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| p,p-DDE | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| o,p-DDD | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| o,p-DDE | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| o,p-DDT | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| Alpha Endosulfan | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| Beta Endosulfan | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| Endrin | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| Mirex | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.050 | - |
| Simazine | parts per billion | no more than 10 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.50 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Alachlor | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.50 | - |
| Atrazine | parts per billion | no more than 5 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.50 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Metribuzin | parts per billion | no more than 80 | <0.20 | <0.20 to <1.0 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Azinphosmethyl | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.50 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Chlorpyrifos | parts per billion | no more than 90 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.50 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Diazinon | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.50 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Dimethoate | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.50 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Malathion | parts per billion | no more than 190 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.50 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Parathion | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.50 | - |
| Terbufos | parts per billion | no more than 1 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.50 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Methyl Parathion | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.50 | - |
| 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 0.0100 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Dinoseb | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.050 | <0.050 to <0.050 | - |
| 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 <0.50 | 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 <0.50 | - |
| Trifluralin | parts per billion | no more than 45 | <0.030 | <0.030 to <0.150 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Arochlor 1016 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.02 to <0.20 | - |
| Arochlor 1221 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.02 to <0.20 | - |
| Arochlor 1232 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.02 to <0.20 | - |
| Arochlor 1242 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.02 to <0.20 | - |
| Arochlor 1248 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.02 to <0.20 | - |
| Arochlor 1254 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.02 to <0.20 | - |
| Arochlor 1260 | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.02 to <0.20 | - |
| Calcium | parts per million | no guideline | 20.9 | 18.3 to 25.6 | Contributes to hardness |
| Magnesium | parts per million | no guideline | 5.93 | 4.86 to 7.77 | Contributes to hardness |
| Sodium | parts per million | no more than 200 | 2.35 | 1.90 to 3.53 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Potassium | parts per million | no guideline | 1.25 | 1.12 to 1.56 | - |
| Iron | parts per million | no more than 0.3 * | 0.045 | 0.008 to 0.278 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Copper | parts per million | no more than 1.0 * | 0.0009 | <0.0003 to 0.0055 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Lead | parts per million | no more than 0.010 | 0.00019 | <0.00009 to <0.00040 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Aluminum | parts per million | no more than 0.1 | 0.0031 | <0.0005 to 0.0137 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Arsenic | parts per million | no more than 0.010 | 0.0008 | 0.0006 to 0.0012 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Chromium | parts per million | no more than 0.05 | <0.0007 | <0.0007 to 0.0009 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Chromium VI | parts per billion | no guideline | <10 | <10 to 10 | - |
| Nickel | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0010 | <0.0003 to 0.0097 | - |
| Cadmium | parts per million | no more than 0.005 | 0.00019 | <0.00001 to <0.00040 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Manganese | parts per million | no more than 0.05 * | 0.0171 | 0.0039 to 0.0928 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Zinc | parts per million | no more than 5.0 * | 0.0018 | <0.0005 to 0.0142 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Mercury | parts per million | no more than 0.001 | 0.0000005 | 0.0000005 to <0.000001 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Antimony | parts per million | no more than 0.006 | 0.0003 | <0.0002 to 0.0011 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Barium | parts per million | no more than 1 | 0.0159 | 0.0138 to 0.0174 | 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 | 0.010 | 0.005 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 | <0.0002 | <0.0002 to <0.0005 | - |
| Lithium | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0021 | <0.0020 to 0.0026 | - |
| Molybdenum | parts per million | no guideline | 0.00023 | 0.00021 to <0.00050 | - |
| Rubidium | parts per million | no guideline | 0.00165 | 0.00153 to 0.00180 | - |
| Selenium | parts per million | no more than 0.05 | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to <0.0010 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Silicon | parts per million | no guideline | 2.59 | 0.86 to 4.09 | - |
| Silver | parts per million | no guideline | 0.00012 | <0.00010 to <0.00050 | - |
| Strontium | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0396 | 0.0359 to 0.0436 | - |
| 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 | 0.0002 | 0.0001 to 0.0006 | - |
| Titanium | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to <0.0005 | - |
| Tungsten | parts per million | no guideline | <0.00010 | <0.00010 to <0.00010 | - |
| Uranium | parts per million | no more than 0.02 | 0.0002 | <0.0001 to <0.0005 | Raw water - guideline does not apply |
| Vanadium | parts per million | no guideline | 0.00013 | <0.00020 to 0.00023 | - |
| Zirconium | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0004 | <0.0004 to 0.0023 | - |
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
* 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 is no anticipated health risk for short-term exposures.
Guidelines from 'Summary of Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality' by Health Canada, October 2014
Last updated: December 7, 2020