2016 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
- 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 treated average | Water Treatment Plant treated range | Comments |
| Miscellaneous | |||||
| Carbon, Dissolved Organic | parts per million | no guideline | 4.4 | 2.3 to 7.5 | - |
| Carbon, Total Organic | parts per million | no guideline | 4.5 | 2.1 to 8.0 | - |
| Chlorine, Free | parts per million | no guideline | 1.16 | 0.87 to 2.18 | - |
| Chlorine, Total | parts per million | no guideline | 1.33 | 1.01 to 2.50 | - |
| Chlorophyll-a | parts per billion | no guideline | <1 | <1 to <1 | Chlorophyll is found in algae |
| Colour, True | TCU | no more than 15 * | 1.2 | 0.5 to 4.0 | Meets the guideline |
| Conductivity | microsiemens per centimetre | no guideline | 321 | 290 to 354 | Another measure of dissolved solids |
| Microcystin LR | parts per billion | no more than 1.5 | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | Meets the guideline |
| Odour | units | inoffensive | 16 | 5 to 25 | Meets the guideline |
| Oxygen, Dissolved | parts per million | no guideline | 12.1 | 8.7 to 15.6 | - |
| pH | units | between 6.5 and 8.5 | 7.75 | 7.53 to 8.03 | Meets the guideline |
| Plankton (algae) count | cells/mL | no guideline | 117 | <100 to 700 | Algae contribute to odours and may cause filter clogging |
| Solids, Total | parts per million | no guideline | 195 | 174 to 228 | - |
| Solids, Total Dissolved | parts per million | no more than 500 * | 181 | 148 to 202 | Meets the guideline |
| Temperature | degrees Celcius | no more than 15 * | 10.8 | 1.1 to 23.7 | Does not always meet the guideline |
| Turbidity (clearness) | NTU | no more than 0.3 in 95% of measurements/month, never to exceed 1.0 | 0.16 | 0.08 to 0.29 | Meets the guideline |
| UV Transmittance, Filtered | percent transmissivity | no guideline | 95.5 | 91.9 to 97.6 | - |
| UV Transmittance, Unfiltered | percent transmissivity | no guideline | 94.3 | 90.0 to 96.9 | - |
| Anions and Nutrients | |||||
| Alkalinity, Total | parts per million as calcium carbonate | no guideline | 67 | 57 to 80 | - |
| Hardness, Total | parts per million as calcium carbonate | no guideline | 80 | 74 to 88 | - |
| Chloride | parts per million | no more than 250 * | 21 | 18 to 26 | Meets the guideline |
| Perchlorate | parts per billion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | - |
| Sulphate | parts per million | no more than 500 * | 53 | 41 to 69 | Meets the guideline |
| Bacteria | |||||
| Escherichia Coli | MPN per 100 mL | less than one bacteria detectable per 100 mL | <1 | <1 to <1 | Meets the guideline |
| Total Coliforms | MPN per 100 mL | less than one bacteria detectable per 100 mL | <1 | <1 to <1 | Meets the guideline |
| Heterotrophic Plate Count | CFU per mL | no guideline | <1 | <1 to 2 | - |
| Taste and Odours | |||||
| 236 TCA - 2,3,6-trichloroanisole | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.50 | <0.49 to <0.50 | - |
| 246 TCA - 2,4,6-trichloroanisole | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.50 | <0.50 to <0.76 | - |
| 345 TCV - 3,4,5-trichloroveratrole | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <2.3 | - |
| Geosmin | parts per trillion | no guideline | 2.0 | <1.0 to 5.0 | - |
| IBMP - 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.4 | - |
| IPMP - 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine | parts per trillion | no guideline | <0.2 | <0.2 to <0.2 | - |
| Methylene Chloride (Dicholormethane) | parts per billion | no more than 50 | 0.6 | <0.5 to <2.0 | Meets the guideline |
| MIB - 2-methylisoborneol | parts per trillion | no guideline | <9.8 | <9.8 to <14 | - |
| MTBE - methyl tertiary-butyl ether | parts per billion | no more than 15 * | <0.5 | <0.5 to <0.5 | Meets the guideline |
| NDMA - N-nitrosodimethylamine |
parts per billion | no more than 0.04 | 0.0008 | <0.0005 to 0.0014 | Meets the guideline |
| Disinfection By-Products | |||||
| Aldehydes | parts per billion | no guideline | 13.6 | 3.7 to 25.7 | - |
| Bromodichloromethane | parts per billion | no guideline | 1.3 | <1.0 to 2.3 | - |
| Haloacetic acids | parts per billion | no more than 80 | 12 | 5 to 20 | Meets the guideline |
| Trihalomethanes | parts per billion | no more than 100 | 10.6 | <2.0 to 17.1 | Meets the guideline |
| Total Metals | |||||
| Aluminum | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0237 | 0.0033 to 0.2660 | - |
| Antimony | parts per million | no more than 0.006 | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to 0.0008 | Meets the guideline |
| Arsenic | parts per million | no more than 0.010 | 0.0005 | <0.0003 to 0.0009 | Meets the guideline |
| Boron | parts per million | no more than 5 | 0.0104 | <0.0005 to 0.0350 | Meets the guideline |
| Cadmium | parts per million | no more than 0.005 | <0.0004 | <0.0004 to <0.0004 | Meets the guideline |
| Calcium | parts per million | no guideline | 20.7 | 17.0 to 26.5 | Contributes to hardness |
| Chromium | parts per million | no more than 0.05 | 0.0009 | <0.0007 to 0.0042 | Meets the guideline |
| Chromium VI | parts per billion | no guideline | 2 | <1 to <10 | - |
| Copper | parts per million | no more than 1.0 * | 0.0033 | 0.0019 to 0.0056 | Meets the guideline |
| Iron | parts per million | no more than 0.3 * | 0.042 | <0.004 to 0.184 | Meets the guideline |
| Lead | parts per million | no more than 0.010 | <0.0004 | <0.0004 to <0.0004 | Meets the guideline |
| Magnesium | parts per million | no guideline | 5.99 | 5.01 to 7.53 | Contributes to hardness |
| Manganese | parts per million | no more than 0.05 * | 0.0285 | 0.0150 to 0.0435 | Meets the guideline |
| Mercury | parts per trillion | no more than 1000 | <0.5 | <0.5 to 1.3 | Meets the guideline |
| Nickel | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0028 | 0.0013 to 0.0043 | - |
| Potassium | parts per million | no guideline | 1.18 | 0.94 to 1.53 | - |
| Sodium | parts per million | no more than 200 * | 31.4 | 24.5 to 39.8 | Meets the guideline |
| Uranium | parts per million | no more than 0.02 | <0.0005 | <0.0005 to <0.0005 | Meets the guideline |
| Zinc | parts per million | no more than 5.0 * | 0.0020 | <0.0005 to 0.0174 | Meets the guideline |
| Zirconium | parts per million | no guideline | 0.0013 | <0.0005 to 0.07150 | - |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| Azinphosmethyl | parts per billion | no more than 20 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| Chlorpyrifos | parts per billion | no more than 90 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| Diclofop-methyl | parts per billion | no more than 9 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| Terbufos | parts per billion | no more than 1 | <0.10 | <0.10 to <0.10 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | Meets the guideline |
| 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 | 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 | - |
| 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 <0.0080 | 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 |
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