This report is prepared in compliance with Section 12, Ontario Regulation 459/00 - Drinking Water Protection Regulation as approved under the Ontario Water Resources Act.

Water Treatment and Distribution Systems

The City of Welland purchases it's water from the Regional Municipality of Niagara. Water supplied to the water distribution system in the City of Welland, is treated at the Welland Water Treatment Plant, located at 4 Cross Street. The source of water for this plant is 'surface water' from Lake Erie, via the Welland Canal and the Welland Recreational Waterway (Old Welland Canal). The Welland Water Treatment Plant is a full treatment plant providing screening, chemically assisted flocculation/coagulation, filtration (dual media - granular activated carbon and sand), disinfection and fluoridation. The plant also has the ability to use powdered activated carbon (PAC) for taste and odour control when necessary.

The Welland Water Treatment Plant supplies potable water to the Urban Service Area of the City of Welland, portions of the Town of Pelham(Fonthill and Fenwick), and a small area in the south end of the City of Thorold.

Details regarding the operation of the Welland Water Treatment Plant, can be found on the Regional Municipality of Niagara website at:www.niagararegion.ca.

Treated water, from the Welland Water Treatment Plant is distributed to Welland residents through approximately 269 kilometers of City, and 24 kilometers of Regional watermain, which range in size from 50mm (2 inch) to 750mm (30 inch).

Operational Compliance

To meet the requirements of Regulation 459/00, the City of Welland is required to take a minimum of 58 water samples per month, representing a cross section of the distribution system, to be tested for bacteriological indicators of contamination. In addition, at the time of taking a 'water sample', the City is required to perform a test to determine the chlorine residual content of the water. As of August 26, 2000, Operators of Waterworks and/or Water Distribution Systems, are required to report all incidents of 'Adverse Water Quality' to the Ministry of the Environment and the local Medical Officier of Health. Indicators of 'Adverse Water Quality' on any water sample collected as part of the City's regular 'Drinking Water Quality Assurance Program' include:

1. The presence of escherichia coli (E. Coli or fecal coliform) in any water sample collected from the distribution system.
2. The presence of Total coliforms (non-escherichia coli) in any water sample collected from the distribution system.
3. The presence of more than, 200 background colonies, on a Total Coliform (BKG) membrane filter analysis.
4. The presence of more than, 500 colonies per ml, on a Heterotropic Plate Count (HPC) analysis.
5. Water samples which show a Free Chlorine Residual less than 0.05 mg/l.

Additional Parameters

Definitions:

THM Pb MAC IMAC mg/l

= Trihalomethanes = Lead = Maximum Acceptable Concentration = Interim Maximum Acceptable Concentration = Milligrams Per Litre

The City’s practices for compliance with the new regulations are as follows:

When instances of 'Adverse Water Quality' are found through the 'Drinking Water Quality Assurance Program', watermains near the original sampling location are 'flushed' by opening adjacent hydrants; the Ministry of the Environment and the Medical Officier of Health are notified; and re-samples are taken in accordance with the Ontario Drinking Water Regulation. The process of 'flushing' and re-sampling is continued, until the quality of water within the effected area of the water distribution system meets the water quality parameters outlined in Ontario Drinking Water Protection Regulation.

Please direct water quality questions to Jerry Boc.

During this period, 441 regulatory samples were collected, 0 resamples were taken due to non-compliance and [[NONCOMPLIANCE]] samples were taken as the result of consumer request(s).

Adverse Water Quality Reports

All Results