Drinking Water Quality and Compliance
Annual Notice to Consumers
Introduction
The Water Security Agency and the Ministry of Environment requires that at least once each year waterworks owners provide notification to consumers of the quality of water produced and supplied as well as information on the performance of the waterworks in submitting samples as required by a Minister’s Order or Permit to Operate a waterworks. The following is a summary of the Town of Burstall water quality and sample submission compliance record for the 2019 time period. This report was completed on January 16th, 2020. Readers should refer to Water Security Agency’s Municipal Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Guidelines, June 2015, EPB 502 for more information on minimum sample submission requirements and the meaning of type of sample. Permit requirements for a specific waterworks may require more sampling than outlined in the department’s monitoring guidelines. If consumers need more information on the nature and significance of specific water tests, for example, “what is the significance of Selenium in a water supply”, more detailed information is available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/water-eau/index_e.html .
Water Quality Standards
Bacteriological Quality
Regular Samples Regular Samples # of Positive Regular
Parameter/Location Limit Required Submitted Submitted (%)
Total Coliform 0 Organisms/100 mL 24 26 0
E. coli 0 Organisms/100 mL 24 26 0
Water Disinfection –
Chlorine Residual in Distribution System for Test Results Submitted with Bacteriological Samples
Minimum Total Chlorine Free Chlorine # Tests # Tests # Adequate
Parameter Limit Residual Range Residual Range Required Submitted Chlorine (%)
Chlorine 0.1 mg/L free OR
Residual 0.5 mg/L total .69 – 1.22 .05 – 1.12 24 26 100%
Water Disinfection – Free Chlorine Residual for Water Entering Distribution System from Waterworks Records-From Water Treatment Plant Records
Test Level # Tests # Tests Not Meeting
Parameter Limit (mg/L) Range Performed Requirements
Free Chlorine Residual at least 0.1 .55 – 1.34 365 0
A minimum of 0.1 milligrams per litre (mg/L) free chlorine residual is required for water entering the distribution system. Tests are normally performed on a daily basis by the waterworks operator and are to be recorded in operation records. This data includes the number of free chlorine residual tests performed, the overall range of free chlorine residual (highest and lowest recorded values) and the number of tests and percentage of results not meeting the minimum requirement of 0.1 mg/L free chlorine residual.
Turbidity – From Water Treatment Plant Records
Parameter Limit Test Level # Tests Not Meeting Maximum # Tests # Tests
(NTU) Range Requirements Turbidity (NTU) Required Performed
Turbidity 1.0 .05 – .85 0 .85 365 365
Chemical – Health Category
All waterworks serving less than 5000 persons are required to submit water samples for SE’s Chemical Health category once every 2 years. The Chemical Health category includes analysis for arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, chromium, fluoride, lead, nitrate, selenium and uranium.
The last sample for Chemical Health analysis was submitted on April 8, 2019. Sample results indicated that the provincial drinking water quality standards were not exceeded.
Limit Limit Sample
Parameter MAC(mg/L) IMAC (mg/L) Result(s)
Arsenic 0.010 .00020
Barium 1.0 .0676
Boron 5.0 0.1
Cadmium 0.005 .00015
Chromium 0.05 .00019
Fluoride (avg*) 1.5 .14
Lead 0.01 .00010
Nitrate (avg.*) 45.0 1.8
Selenium 0.01 .00113
Uranium 0.02 .0015
General Chemical
Aesthetic Sample Results
Parameter Objectives * (mg/L) (average)
Alkalinity 500 187
Bicarbonate No Objective 228
Calcium No Objective 59
Carbonate No Objective 0
Chloride 250 28.4
Conductivity No Objective 711
Hardness 800 234
Magnesium 200 21
PH No Objective 8.1
Sodium 300 57
Sulphate 500 129.7
Total dissolved
Solids 1500 527
All waterworks serving less than 5000 persons are required to submit water samples for SE’s General Chemical category once every two years if a ground water source and once per three months every second year if a surface water or blended surface/groundwater source. The General Chemical category includes analysis for alkalinity, bicarbonate, calcium, carbonate, chloride, conductivity, hardness (as CaCO3), magnesium, sodium, sulphate and total dissolved solids.
The last sample for General Chemical analysis was required on 2019 and submitted on April 8, 2019. Sample results indicated that there were no exceedences of the provincial aesthetic objectives for the General Chemical category.
*Objectives apply to certain characteristics of or substances found in water for human consumptive or hygienic use. The presence of these substances will affect the acceptance of water by consumers and/or interfere with the practice of supplying good quality water. Compliance with drinking water aesthetic objectives is not mandatory as these objectives are in the range where they do not constitute a health hazards. The aesthetic objectives for several parameters (including hardness as CaCO3, magnesium, sodium and total dissolved solids) consider regional differences in drinking water sources and quality.
More information on water quality and sample submission performance may be obtained from:
Town of Burstall
Box 250, Burstall, Sask. S0N 0H0
Telephone Number: 306-679-2000/ Facsimile Number: 306-679-2275
E-mail address: [email protected]