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2016 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 continual 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
  • pesticides, herbicides and PCBs

Test results are from January 1 to December 31, 2016

What is being measured How it's measured Guideline or regulation Water Treatment Plant raw average Water Treatment Plant raw range Comments
Miscellaneous
Carbon, Dissolved Organic parts per million no guideline 9.5 6.9 to 12.6 -
Carbon, Total Organic parts per million no guideline 9.9 7.3 to 13.4 -
Chlorine, Free parts per million no guideline <0.02 <0.02 to 0.06 -
Chlorine, Total parts per million no guideline 0.02 <0.02 to 0.07 -
Chlorophyll-a parts per billion no guideline 5 <1 to 13 Chlorophyll is found in algae
Colour, True TCU no more than 15* 5.7 1.0 to 15.0 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Conductivity microsiemens per centimetre no guideline 165 148 to 183 Another measure of dissolved solids
Langelier Index (4 C) units no guideline -0.56 -0.40 to -0.76 -
Langelier Index (60 C) units no guideline 0.21 0.02 to 0.37 -
Microcystin LR parts per billion no more than 1.5 <0.2 <0.2 to <0.2 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Odour units inoffensive 106 75 to 200 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Oxygen, Dissolved parts per million no guideline 10.7 7.7 to 14.0 -
pH units between 6.5 and 8.5 7.98 7.59 to 8.58 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Plankton (algae) count cells/mL no guideline 23,155 <100 to 100,000 Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging
Solids, Total parts per million no guideline 115 96 to 151 -
Solids, Total Dissolved parts per million no more than 500* 101 73 to 127 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Temperature degrees Celcius no more than 15* 10.4 0.7 to 23.4 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Turbidity (clearness) NTU no guideline 1.02 0.38 to 3.34 -
UV Absorbance, Unfiltered units per centimeter no guideline 0.130 0.111 to 0.209 -
UV Transmittance, Filtered percent transmissivity no guideline 76.1 71.0 to 94.8 -
UV Transmittance, Unfiltered percent transmissivity no guideline 74.3 61.8 to 93.7 -
Anions and Nutrients
Alkalinity, Total parts per million as calcium carbonate no guideline 73 66 to 84 -
Alkalinity, Bicarbonate parts per million no guideline 88 84 to 93 -
Alkalinity, Carbonate parts per million no guideline <0.60 <0.60 to <0.60 -
Alkalinity, Hydroxide parts per million no guideline <0.34 <0.34 to <0.34 -
Hardness, Total parts per million as calcium carbonate no guideline 80 73 to 89 -
Ammonia parts per million no guideline 0.023 <0.010 to 0.048 -
Bromide parts per million no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 -
Chloride parts per million no more than 250* 2.6 1.7 to 6.0 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Fluoride parts per million no guideline 0.067 0.059 to 0.074 -
Nitrate Nitrogen parts per million no more than 10 0.0201 <0.0050 to 0.0483 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Nitrite parts per million no guideline 0.0023 <0.0010 to 0.0026 -
Perchlorate parts per billion no guideline <0.2 <0.2 to <0.2 -
Phosphorus,Total parts per million no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Phosphorus can contribute to algae growth
Sulphate parts per million no more than 500* 2.3 <2.0 to 6.0 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Bacteria
Escherichia Coli MPN per 100 mL no guideline 66 <1 to >200 -
Total Coliforms MPN per 100 mL no guideline 120 <1 to >200 -
Heterotrophic Plate Count CFU per mL no guideline 129 <1 to >300 -
Disinfection By-Products
Aldehydes parts per billion no guideline 3.3 1.3 to 6.8 -
Bromodichloromethane parts per billion no guideline 0.4 <0.4 to 1.0 -
Haloacetic acids parts per billion no more than 80 <3 <3 to <3 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Trihalomethanes parts per billion no more than 100 1.4 <0.9 to 4.0 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Enteric Protozoa
Cryptosporidium oocysts per 100 L no guideline <1.0 <1.0 to <2.6 12 samples taken in 2016
Giardia cysts per 100 L no guideline <1.0 <1.0 to 2.6 12 samples taken in 2016 - 1 positive result
Taste and Odours
236 TCA - 2,3,6-trichloroanisole parts per trillion no guideline <0.5 <0.49 to <0.5 -
246 TCA - 2,4,6-trichloroanisole parts per trillion no guideline <0.5 <0.49 to <0.55 -
345 TCV - 3,4,5-trichloroveratrole parts per trillion no guideline 0.3 <0.19 to <4 -
Geosmin parts per trillion no guideline 4.5 1.1 to 15.2 -
IBMP - 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine parts per trillion no guideline <0.2 <0.19 to <0.27 -
IPMP - 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine parts per trillion no guideline <0.2 <0.19 to <0.2 -
Methylene Chloride (Dichloromethane) parts per billion no more than 50 0.6 <0.5 to <2 Raw water - guideline does not apply
MIB - 2-methylisoborneol parts per trillion no guideline <10 <9.7 to <10 -
MTBE - methyl tertiary-butyl ether parts per billion no more than 15* <0.5 <0.5 to <0.5 Raw water - guideline does not apply
NDMA -
N-nitrosodimethylamine
parts per billion no more than 0.04 0.0007 <0.0005 to 0.0010 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Total Metals
Aluminum parts per million no guideline 0.0039 <0.0005 to 0.0320 -
Antimony parts per million no more than 0.006 0.0003 <0.0002 to <0.0010 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Arsenic parts per million no more than 0.010 0.0009 0.0004 to 0.0014 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Barium parts per million no more than 1 0.0155 0.0143 to 0.0163 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 0.009 <0.0005 to <0.030 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Cadmium parts per million no more than 0.005 0.00019 <0.00001 to <0.00040 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Calcium parts per million no guideline 21.0 16.6 to 28.5 Contributes to hardness
Cesium parts per million no guideline <0.00010 <0.00010 to <0.00010 -
Chromium parts per million no more than 0.05 <0.0007 <0.0007 to 0.0053 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Chromium VI parts per billion no guideline 2 <1 to <10 -
Cobalt parts per million no guideline <0.0002 <0.0002 to <0.0002 -
Copper parts per million no more than 1.0* 0.0009 <0.0003 to 0.0051 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Iron parts per million no more than 0.3* 0.050 <0.008 to 0.184 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Lead parts per million no more than 0.010 0.00020 <0.00009 to <0.00100 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Lithium parts per million no guideline 0.0025 0.0023 to 0.0026 -
Magnesium parts per million no guideline 6.10 5.12 to 7.79 Contributes to hardness
Manganese parts per million no more than 0.05* 0.0159 0.0040 to 0.0494 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Mercury parts per trillion no more than 1000 0.5 <0.5 to 0.8 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Molybdenum parts per million no guideline <0.00020 <0.00020 to 0.00022 -
Nickel parts per million no guideline 0.0008 <0.0003 to 0.0020 -
Potassium parts per million no guideline 1.18 0.85 to 1.48 -
Rubidium parts per million no guideline 0.00182 0.00166 to 0.00196 -
Selenium parts per million no more than 0.05 <0.0010 <0.0010 to <0.0010 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Silicon parts per million no guideline 2.20 0.98 to 3.15 -
Silver parts per million no guideline <0.00010 <0.00010 to <0.00010 -
Sodium parts per million no more than 200 2.19 1.78 to 3.03 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Strontium parts per million no guideline 0.0399 0.0363 to 0.0437 -
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 <0.00050 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 0.0002 <0.0001 to <0.0005 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Vanadium parts per million no guideline <0.00020 <0.00020 to <0.00020 -
Zinc parts per million no more than 5.0* 0.0020 <0.0005 to 0.0440 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Zirconium parts per million no guideline <0.0004 <0.0004 to <0.0010 -
Pesticides
Alachlor parts per billion no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 -
Aldrin parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
alpha-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 -
alpha-Endosulfan parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Atrazine parts per billion no more than 5 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 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
beta-BHC 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 -
Carbofuran parts per billion no more than 90 <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Chlorpyrifos parts per billion no more than 90 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Raw water - guideline does not apply
delta-BHC parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Diazinon parts per billion no more than 20 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Diclofop-methyl parts per billion no more than 9 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Dieldrin parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Dimethoate parts per billion no more than 20 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Endrin parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Eptam parts per billion no guideline <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 -
gamma-Chlordane parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
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 -
Lindane (gamma-BHC) parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Malathion parts per billion no more than 190 <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Methoxychlor parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Methyl Parathion parts per billion no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 -
Metribuzin parts per billion no more than 80 <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Mirex 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 -
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 -
p,p-DDT parts per billion no guideline <0.010 <0.010 to <0.010 -
Parathion parts per billion no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 -
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 -
Propoxur parts per billion no guideline <0.20 <0.20 to <0.20 -
Simazine parts per billion no more than 10 <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
Triallate parts per billion no guideline <0.10 <0.10 to <0.10 -
Trichlopyr parts per billion no guideline <0.050 <0.050 to <0.050 -
Trifluralin parts per billion no more than 45 <0.030 <0.030 to <0.030 Raw water - guideline does not apply
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Arochlor 1016 parts per billion no guideline <0.02 <0.02 to <0.02 -
Arochlor 1221 parts per billion no guideline <0.02 <0.02 to <0.02 -
Arochlor 1232 parts per billion no guideline <0.02 <0.02 to <0.02 -
Arochlor 1242 parts per billion no guideline <0.02 <0.02 to <0.02 -
Arochlor 1248 parts per billion no guideline <0.02 <0.02 to <0.02 -
Arochlor 1254 parts per billion no guideline <0.02 <0.02 to <0.02 -
Arochlor 1260 parts per billion no guideline <0.02 <0.02 to <0.02 -
Phenoxy Acid Herbicides
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 -
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 -
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 <0.0150 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

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

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