2015 Water Treatment Plant treated water quality test results
The new Water Treatment Plant is a state-of-the-art, modern facility designed for performance, safety, and environmental sustainability. In the plant, the water goes through several treatment processes, including dissolved air flotation, ozonation, filtration and ultraviolet light disinfection. Fluoride and orthophosphate are also added to the water. The Water Treatment Plant allows us to:
- comply with the requirements of our Operating Licence
- meet increasingly strict Canadian drinking water quality guidelines,
- virtually eliminate the risk of waterborne disease,
- reduce levels of disinfection by-products and
- significantly improve the taste and odour of the drinking water.
Our Operating Licence requires that we maintain a minimum free chlorine residual of 0.5 milligrams per litre in water leaving the Water Treatment Plant.
Testing
We test our water at Shoal Lake, at the Water Treatment Plant raw water inlet and at the Water Treatment Plant treated water outlet once the water has passed through all of the treatment processes. The water then flows from the water treatment plant to the three regional reservoirs and pumping stations before being distributed to Winnipeg homes and businesses.
At the Water Treatment Plant treated water sampling point we test for:
- routine water chemistry
- taste and odour compounds
- metals
- disinfection by-products
- bacteria
Test results are from January 1 to December 31, 2015
| What is being measured | How it's measured | Guideline or regulation | Water Treatment Plant treated average | Water Treatment Plant treated range | Comments |
| Odour | units | Inoffensive | 19 | 12 to 30 | Meets the guideline |
| Methylene Chloride (Dicholormethane) | parts per billion | no more than 50 | <0.5 | <0.5 to 0.7 | Meets the guideline |
| Perchlorate | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | - |
| Geosmin | parts per trillion | no guideline | 1.7 | <0.5 to 3.7 | 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 | Meets the guideline |
| NDMA - N-nitrosodimethylamine |
parts per billion | no more than 0.04 | 0.0009 | 0.0007 to 0.0011 | Meets the guideline |
| Plankton (algae) count | cells/mL | no guideline | <100 | <100 to <100 | Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging |
| Chlorophyll-a | parts per billion | no guideline | <1 | <1 to <1 | Chlorophyll is found in algae |
| Microcystin LR | parts per billion | no more than 1.5 | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | Meets the guideline |
| Turbidity (clearness) | NTU | no more than 0.3 in 95% of measurements/month, never to exceed 1.0 | 0.11 | <0.05 to 0.52 | Meets the guideline |
| Colour, True | TCU | no more than 15 * | 0.8 | 0.5 to 2.5 | Meets the guideline |
| Total Solids | parts per million | no guideline | 193 | 164 to 242 | - |
| Total Dissolved Solids | parts per million | no more than 500 * | 181 | 139 to 229 | Meets the guideline |
| Conductivity | microsiemens per centimetre | no guideline | 318 | 294 to 355 | Another measure of dissolved solids |
| pH | units | between 6.5 and 8.5 * | 7.74 | 7.39 to 8.09 | Meets the guideline |
| Temperature | degrees Celcius | no more than 15 * | 11.2 | 1.7 to 23.2 | Does not always meet the guideline. |
| Total Alkalinity | parts per million as calcium carbonate | no guideline | 66 | 54 to 77 | - |
| Total Hardness | parts per million as calcium carbonate | no guideline | 81 | 73 to 94 | - |
| Total Organic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 4 | 2 to 15 | - |
| Dissolved Organic Carbon | parts per million | no guideline | 4 | 2 to 15 | - |
| Dissolved Oxygen | parts per million | no guideline | 11.9 | 8.3 to 15.8 | - |
| Total Phosphorus | parts per million | no guideline | 0.004 | <0.001 to 0.008 | Phosphorus can contribute to algae growth |
| Chloride | parts per million | no more than 250 * | 22 | 15 to 27 | Meets the guideline |
| Sulphate | parts per million | no more than 500 * | 52 | 44 to 65 | Meets the guideline |
| UV Transmittance (Filtered) | percent transmissivity | no guideline | 95.6 | 92.0 to 98.1 | - |
| UV Transmittance (Unfiltered) | percent transmissivity | no guideline | 94.5 | 90.6 to 97.4 | - |
| Chlorine (free) | parts per million | no guideline | 1.15 | 0.92 to 1.90 | - |
| Chlorine (total) | parts per million | no guideline | 1.30 | 1.08 to 2.18 | - |
| Trihalomethanes | parts per billion | no more than 100 | 5 | <1 to 13 | Meets the guideline |
| Bromodichloromethane | parts per billion | no guideline | <1 | <1 to 2 | - |
| Haloacetic acids | parts per billion | no more than 80 | 17 | 11 to 37 | Meets the guideline |
| Aldehydes | parts per billion | no guideline | 14 | 6 to 24 | - |
| Carbofuran | parts per billion | no more than 90 | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | Meets the guideline |
| Propoxur | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | - |
| Aldrin | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.010 | <0.010 to <0.010 | - |
| 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 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 | - |
| Methoxychlor | 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 | - |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| Metribuzin | parts per billion | no more than 80 | <0.20 | <0.20 to <0.20 | Meets the guideline |
| Azinphosmethyl | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Chlorpyrifos | parts per billion | no more than 90 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Diazinon | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Dimethoate | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Malathion | parts per billion | no more than 190 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| Parathion | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | - |
| Terbufos | parts per billion | no more than 1 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| Dicamba | parts per billion | no more than 120 | <0.0060 | <0.0060 to 0.0116 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | 20.8 | 18.1 to 24.8 | Contributes to hardness |
| Magnesium | parts per million | no guideline | 5.90 | 4.80 to 7.46 | Contributes to hardness |
| Sodium | parts per million | no more than 200 * | 30.7 | 25.6 to 37.9 | Meets the guideline |
| Potassium | parts per million | no guideline | 1.24 | 1.10 to 1.44 | - |
| Iron | parts per million | no more than 0.3 * | 0.034 | <0.008 to 0.108 | Meets the guideline |
| Copper | parts per million | no more than 1.0 * | 0.0029 | <0.0003 to 0.0067 | Meets the guideline |
| Lead | parts per million | no more than 0.010 | <0.0004 | <0.0004 to 0.0004 | Meets the guideline |
| Aluminum | parts per million | no more than 0.1 | 0.0191 | <0.0005 to 0.0447 | Meets the guideline |
| Arsenic | parts per million | no more than 0.010 | 0.0004 | 0.0003 to 0.0006 | Meets the guideline |
| Chromium | parts per million | no more than 0.05 | <0.0007 | <0.0007 to 0.0023 | Meets the guideline |
| Chromium VI | parts per billion | no guideline | <10 | <10 to <10 | - |
| Nickel | parts per million | no guideline | 0.003 | 0.002 to 0.005 | - |
| Cadmium | parts per million | no more than 0.005 | <0.0004 | <0.0004 to <0.0004 | Meets the guideline |
| Manganese | parts per million | no more than 0.05 * | 0.0282 | 0.0147 to 0.0411 | Meets the guideline |
| Zinc | parts per million | no more than 5.0 * | 0.0044 | <0.0005 to 0.0433 | Meets the guideline |
| Mercury | parts per million | no more than 0.001 | 0.0000012 | <0.0000005 to 0.0000050 | Meets the guideline |
| Antimony | parts per million | no more than 0.006 | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to 0.0006 | Meets the guideline |
| Boron | parts per million | no more than 5 | 0.012 | 0.005 to 0.032 | Meets the guideline |
| Cobalt | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to <0.0005 | - |
| Molybdenum | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to <0.0005 | - |
| Selenium | parts per million | no more than 0.05 | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to 0.0005 | Meets the guideline |
| Silver | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to <0.0005 | - |
| Tin | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0006 | 0.0005 to 0.0007 | - |
| Titanium | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0012 | 0.0011 to 0.0012 | - |
| Uranium | parts per million | no more than 0.02 | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to <0.0005 | Meets the guideline |
| Zirconium | parts per million | no guideline | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to 0.0006 | - |
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