Port Colborne Water Treatment Plant - 2020 Annual Water Quality Report

The Annual Water Quality Report summarizes the quality of drinking water from the Port Colborne Water Treatment Plant from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2020.

Description of Drinking Water System

A conventional surface water treatment plant incorporates the following steps in its purification process:

  • Zebra mussel control
  • Travelling screens
  • Coagulation
  • Flocculation
  • Sedimentation
  • Filtration
  • Disinfection

Port Colborne Water Treatment provides water to the City of Port Colborne. The Port Colborne Water Treatment Plant is located at 323 King St. in Port Colborne, Ontario.

The water treatment chemicals used over this reporting period are:

  • Sodium Hypochlorite
  • Aluminum Sulphate

Monetary Expenses Incurred

To ensure safe and efficient operations, the following major repairs or upgrade projects took place:

  • Port Colborne Water Treatment Plant upgrade - $300,000

Notices Submitted

Incident Date Parameter Result Unit of Measure Corrective Action Corrective Action Date
NIL          

 

Water Quality Test Results

Starting in 2018, reported units of measure have been updated to match the units of measure included within Ontario Regulation 169/03 - Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards.

Reported results that are shown with a less than symbol (<) before the value indicates that the sample result is below the lowest possible detection limit for the parameter.

Microbiological

Total Coliform and E.coli bacteria tests are performed on raw, treated and distributed drinking water.

Microbiological testing done under the Schedule 10, 11 or 12 of Regulation 170/03, during this reporting period.

Test Number of Samples Range of E.Coli or Fecal Results (minimum number)-(maximum number) Range of Total Coliform Results (minimum number)-(maximum number) Number of HPC* Samples Range of HPC Results (minimum number)-(maximum number)
Raw 52 0-100 0-7,100 Not applicable Not applicable
Treated 52 0 0 52 0-5
Distribution 102 0 0 102 0-6

*HPC (heterotrophic plate count) bacteria indicate biological growth. They are not harmful to humans and do not represent poor drinking water quality.

Operational

Operational testing done under Schedule 7, 8 or 9 of Regulation 170/03 during the period covered by this Annual Report.

Test Number of Samples Range of Results (minimum number)-(maximum number)
Turbidity 8760 0.07-0.855 NTU*
Chlorine 8760 0.61-1.80 mg/L
Fluoride Not applicable  

*NTU (nephelometric turbidity units) is a unit that measures the lack of water clarity.

An analyzer continuously monitors the water treatment process and records results on a predetermined frequency. Continuous monitors use 8760 as the number of samples.

Summary of additional testing and sampling carried out in accordance with the requirement of an approval, order or other legal instrument.

Date of legal instrument issued Parameter Date Sampled Result Unit of Measure
Municipal Drinking Water Licence: November 2, 2016 Total Suspended Solids (to environment) Monthly Annual Average 6.0 mg/L

Inorganics

Inorganic substances include heavy metals and dissolved minerals that may be present in treated drinking water. The following is a summary of inorganic parameters tested or the most recent sample results.

Parameter Sample Date Result Value Unit of Measure Exceedance
Antimony Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0005 mg/L 0
Arsenic Nov. 18, 2020 <0.001 mg/L 0
Barium Nov. 18, 2020 0.017 mg/L 0
Boron Nov. 18, 2020 0.014 mg/L 0
Cadmium Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0001 mg/L 0
Chromium Nov. 18, 2020 0.001 mg/L 0
Lead* - - - -
Mercury Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0001 mg/L 0
Selenium Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0005 mg/L 0
Sodium Dec. 2, 2020 9.74 mg/L 0
Uranium Nov. 18, 2020 <0.001 mg/L 0
Fluoride Dec. 2, 2020 <0.06 mg/L 0
Nitrite Dec. 2, 2020 <0.05 mg/L 0
Nitrate Dec. 2, 2020 0.21 mg/L 0

*Only for drinking water systems testing under Schedule 15.2; this includes large municipal non-residential systems, small municipal non-residential systems, non-municipal seasonal residential systems, large non-municipal non-residential systems, and small non-municipal non-residential systems.

Summary of lead testing under Schedule 15.1 during this reporting period
(applicable to the following drinking water systems; large municipal residential systems, small municipal residential systems, and non-municipal year-round residential systems)

Location Type Number of Samples Range of Lead Results (min to max) Unit of Measure Exceedance
Plumbing 4 <0.0001 mg/L 0
Distribution 4 <0.0001 mg/L 0

Organics

Trace organic test parameters include: volatile organic substances, pesticides, solvents, dioxins, PCB's, and disinfection by-products. The following is a summary of organic parameters tested or the most recent sample results.

Parameter Sample Date Result Value Unit of Measure Exceedance
Alachlor Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000272 μg/L 0
Atrazine + N-dealkylated metobolites Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0005 μg/L 0
Azinphos-methyl Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000204 μg/L 0
Benzene Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0001 μg/L 0
Benzo(a)pyrene Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000009 μg/L 0
Bromoxynil Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0000105 μg/L 0
Carbaryl Nov. 18, 2020 <0.001 μg/L 0
Carbofuran Nov. 18, 2020 <0.002 μg/L 0
Carbon Tetrachloride Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0002 μg/L 0
Chlorpyrifos Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000204 μg/L 0
Diazinon Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000204 μg/L 0
Dicamba Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0000916 μg/L 0
1,2-Dichlorobenzene Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0003 μg/L 0
1,4-Dichlorobenzene Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0003 μg/L 0
1,2-Dichloroethane Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0003 μg/L 0
1,1-Dichloroethylene (vinylidene chloride) Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0003 μg/L 0
Dichloromethane Nov. 18, 2020 <0.001 μg/L 0
2-4 Dichlorophenol Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0002 μg/L 0
2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000393 μg/L 0
Diclofop-methyl Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000131 μg/L 0
Dimethoate Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000204 μg/L 0
Diquat Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0002 μg/L 0
Diuron Nov. 18, 2020 <0.007 μg/L 0
Glyphosate Nov. 18, 2020 <0.02 μg/L 0
HAA Running annual average 0.011 mg/L  
Malathion Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000204 μg/L 0
2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MPCA) Nov. 18, 2020 <0.00654 μg/L 0
Metolachlor Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000136 μg/L 0
Metribuzin Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000136 μg/L 0
Monochlorobenzene Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0005 μg/L 0
Paraquat Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0002 μg/L 0
Pentachlorophenol Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0003 μg/L 0
Phorate Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000136 μg/L 0
Picloram Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0000916 μg/L 0
Polychlorinated Biphenyls(PCB) Nov. 18, 2020 <0.00006 μg/L 0
Prometryne Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000068 μg/L 0
Simazine Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000204 μg/L 0
THM Running annual average 0.023 μg/L 0
Terbufos Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000136 μg/L 0
Tetrachloroethylene Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0003 μg/L 0
2,3,4,6-Tetrachlorophenol Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0003 μg/L 0
Triallate Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000136 μg/L 0
Trichloroethylene Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0002 μg/L 0
2,4,6-Trichlorophenol Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0002 μg/L 0
Trifluralin Nov. 18, 2020 <0.000136 μg/L 0
Vinyl Chloride Nov. 18, 2020 <0.0001 μg/L 0

Inorganics

Parameter Result Value Unit of Measure Date of Sample
Sodium 10.3-13.4 mg/L

Jan. 8, 2020, Feb. 3, 2020, Feb. 5, 2020, March 4, 2020, April 1, 2020, May 5, 2020, May 6, 2020, June 2, 2020, June 9, 2020, July 9, 2020, Aug. 5, 2020, Aug. 12, 2020, Sept. 2, 2020, Oct. 19, 2020, Nov. 9, 2020, Nov. 18, 2020, Dec. 2, 2020*

*Sample result below half the standard prescribed in Schedule 2 of Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards.
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