2018 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 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, 2018

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	8.8	3.5 to 14.9	-
Carbon, Total Organic	parts per million	no guideline	9.6	3.6 to 16.3	-
Chlorine, Free	parts per million	no guideline	0.03	<0.02 to 0.09	-
Chlorine, Total	parts per million	no guideline	0.04	<0.02 to 0.16	-
Chlorophyll-a	parts per billion	no guideline	7.0	2.0 to 19.6	Chlorophyll is found in algae
Colour, True	TCU	no more than 15 *	7.2	1.0 to 11.0	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Conductivity	microsiemens per centimetre	no guideline	167	154 to 184	Another measure of dissolved solids
Langelier Index (4 C)	units	no guideline	-0.30	-0.45 to -0.11	-
Langelier Index (60 C)	units	no guideline	0.48	0.33 to 0.67	-
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 *	91	75 to 150	Raw water - guideline does not apply
ORP	millivolts	no guideline	350	206 to 516
Oxygen, Dissolved	parts per million	no guideline	11.5	7.1 to 14.6	-
pH	units	between 7.0 and 10.5	8.01	7.62 to 8.62	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Plankton (algae) count	cells/mL	no guideline	6,434	945 to 15,299	Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging
Solids, Total	parts per million	no guideline	107.5	76 to 154	-
Solids, Total Dissolved	parts per million	no more than 500 *	94	63 to 131	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Temperature	degrees Celcius	no more than 15 *	9.4	1.0 to 23.6	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Turbidity (clearness)	NTU	no more than 0.3 in 95% of measurements/month, never to exceed 1.0	0.95	0.38 to 2.82	Raw water - guideline does not apply
UV Transmittance, Filtered	percent transmissivity	no guideline	75.9	72.0 to 80.3	-
UV Transmittance, Unfiltered	percent transmissivity	no guideline	74.1	71.2 to 77.2	-
Anions and Nutrients
Alkalinity, Total	parts per million as calcium carbonate	no guideline	77	69 to 88	-
Alkalinity, Bicarbonate	parts per million	no guideline	101	92 to 107	-
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	81.3	74.3 to 91.0	-
Ammonia	parts per million	no guideline	0.014	<0.010 to 0.021	-
Bromide	parts per million	no guideline	<0.010	<0.010 to <0.010	-
Chloride	parts per million	no more than 250 *	2.7	<0.4 to 5.6	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Fluoride	parts per million	no more than 1.5	0.062	0.059 to 0.065	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Nitrate Nitrogen	parts per million	no more than 10	0.0126	<0.0050 to 0.0389	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Nitrite	parts per million	no more than 3	<0.0010	<0.0010 to <0.0010	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Perchlorate	parts per billion	no guideline	<0.2	<0.2 to <0.2	-
Phosphorus,Total	parts per million	no guideline	<0.050	<0.0012 to <0.050	Phosphorus can contribute to algae growth
Sulphate	parts per million	no more than 500 *	1.23	<0.40 to 5.65	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Bacteria
Escherichia Coli	MPN per 100 mL	none detectable per 100 mL	33	<1 to >200	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Total Coliforms	MPN per 100 mL	none detectable per 100 mL	81	<1 to >200	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Heterotrophic Plate Count	CFU per mL	no guideline	133	2 to >300	-
Disinfection By-Products
Aldehydes	parts per billion	no guideline	4.0	1.7 to 9.2	-
Bromodichloromethane	parts per billion	no guideline	<0.4	<0.4 to <0.4	-
Haloacetic acids	parts per billion	no more than 80	<4	<1.1 to <4	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Trihalomethanes	parts per billion	no more than 100	<1.7	<1.7 to <3.0	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Enteric Protozoa
Cryptosporidium	oocysts per 100 L	no guideline	<1	<1 to <1	13 samples taken in 2018
Giardia	cysts per 100 L	no guideline	<1	<1 to <1	13 samples taken in 2018
Taste and Odours
236 TCA - 2,3,6-trichloroanisole	parts per trillion	no guideline	<0.5	<0.5 to <0.5	-
246 TCA - 2,4,6-trichloroanisole	parts per trillion	no guideline	<0.5	<0.5 to <0.5	-
345 TCV - 3,4,5-trichloroveratrole	parts per trillion	no guideline	<0.2	<0.2 to <0.2	-
Geosmin	parts per trillion	no guideline	5.9	1.6 to 13.1	-
IBMP - 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine	parts per trillion	no guideline	<0.2	<0.2 to <0.2	-
IPMP - 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine	parts per trillion	no guideline	<0.2	<0.2 to <0.2	-
Dichloromethane	parts per million	no more than 0.05	<0.0005	<0.0005 to <0.0015	Raw water - guideline does not apply
MIB - 2-methylisoborneol	parts per trillion	no guideline	<10	<10 to <10	-
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 trillion	no more than 40	<1.0	<1.0 to 1.3	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Total Metals
Aluminum	parts per million	no guideline	0.00310	0.00114 to 0.01337	-
Antimony	parts per million	no more than 0.006	<0.00050	<0.000025 to <0.00050	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Arsenic	parts per million	no more than 0.010	0.00073	0.00056 to 0.00143	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Barium	parts per million	no more than 1	0.0154	0.0141 to 0.0192	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Beryllium	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00003	<0.00003 to <0.00010	-
Bismuth	parts per million	no guideline	<0.000050	<0.000050 to <0.000050	-
Boron	parts per million	no more than 5	0.0041	<0.00208 to 0.0160	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Cadmium	parts per million	no more than 0.005	<0.00060	<0.000005 to <0.00060	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Calcium	parts per million	no guideline	21.5	16.3 to 25.7	Contributes to hardness
Cesium	parts per million	no guideline	<0.000010	<0.000010 to <0.000010	-
Chromium	parts per million	no more than 0.05	<0.00060	<0.00004 to <0.00060	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Chromium VI	parts per million	no guideline	<0.001	<0.001 to <0.001	-
Cobalt	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00010	<0.00001 to <0.00010	-
Copper	parts per million	no more than 1.0 *	0.00055	<0.000022 to 0.00513	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Iron	parts per million	no more than 0.3 *	0.0529	0.0191 to 0.1971	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Lead	parts per million	no more than 0.010	<0.00060	<0.00005 to <0.00060	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Lithium	parts per million	no guideline	0.0022	0.0014 to 0.0029	-
Magnesium	parts per million	no guideline	6.58	5.20 to 7.54	Contributes to hardness
Manganese	parts per million	no more than 0.05 *	0.0112	0.0038 to 0.0788	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Mercury	parts per billion	no more than 1	<0.0005	<0.0005 to <0.0010	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Molybdenum	parts per million	no guideline	0.000087	<0.000012 to 0.000207	-
Nickel	parts per million	no guideline	0.00026	<0.000021 to 0.00120	-
Potassium	parts per million	no guideline	1.26	0.97 to 1.47	-
Rubidium	parts per million	no guideline	0.00167	0.00156 to 0.00177	-
Selenium	parts per million	no more than 0.05	0.000080	<0.000050 to <0.000190	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Silicon	parts per million	no guideline	3.14	2.68 to 3.45	-
Silver	parts per million	no guideline	<0.000010	<0.000010 to <0.000010	-
Sodium	parts per million	no more than 200 *	2.49	2.03 to 2.81	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Strontium	parts per million	no guideline	0.0380	0.0348 to 0.0434	-
Tellurium	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00020	<0.00020 to <0.00020	-
Thallium	parts per million	no guideline	<0.000010	<0.000010 to <0.000016	-
Thorium	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00010	<0.00010 to <0.00010	-
Tin	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00010	<0.000025 to <0.00010	-
Titanium	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00012	<0.00012 to <0.00030	-
Tungsten	parts per million	no guideline	<0.00010	<0.00010 to <0.00010	-
Uranium	parts per million	no more than 0.02	<0.00060	<0.00001 to <0.00060	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Vanadium	parts per million	no guideline	0.00015	0.00008 to <0.00050	-
Zinc	parts per million	no more than 5.0 *	0.00074	<0.00011 to 0.00727	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Zirconium	parts per million	no guideline	<0.000060	<0.000060 to <0.000060	-
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	<0.010	<0.010 to <0.010	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	-
Carbaryl	parts per billion	no guideline	<0.20	<0.20 to <0.20	-
Carbofuran	parts per billion	no more than 90	<0.20	<0.20 to <0.20	Raw water - guideline does not apply
Chlorothalonil	parts per billion	no guideline	<0.050	<0.050 to <0.050	-
Chlorpyrifos	parts per billion	no more than 90	<0.0050	<0.0050 to <0.0050	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	<0.0050	<0.0050 to <0.0050	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	<0.013	<0.013 to <0.013	-
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	<0.020	<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	-
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 <0.0060	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 <0.40	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, February 2017