INS-17-001 - Summary Water Report January 1 - December 31, 2016

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(b) for each failure referred to in (a), describe the measures that were taken to correct the failure. The report must also include: 1. A summary of the quantities and flow rates of the water supplied during the period covered by the report…. REPORT: The following matters are reported to Council in accordance with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act, for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2016: A MOECC inspection was completed the week of January 9, 2017. The report provided a final inspection rating of 100%. There were 17 Adverse Water Quality Incidents (AWQI’s) reported in this time period (see attached Table 1). Temporary watermains are particularly sensitive as they are above ground systems influenced by the water heating up in warmer temperatures. This may cause the potential for bacteriological growth. Due to the sensitive nature, all temporary watermains are sampled on an increased schedule (every 2 weeks at multiple locations). The additional challenge with temporary watermains is the sample port is located outside and subject to unsanitary conditions. Although efforts are made with the design of the ports to prevent contamination, sampling is not completed under ideal sanitary circumstances. The general nature of reconstruction projects often leads to “false” positives, where the results received are more reflective of what is on the sampling tap, rather than what is in the water. Every positive result is reportable and resampling must occur in accordance with regulations. When the resamples are clear, it is an indication that the issue was with the sampling port, not in the water. The presence of total coliform on a test does not necessarily mean the water is unsafe to drink. Coliform bacteria can be found in many different environments. There are several different types of strains of coliform bacteria. Most are harmless and do not cause illness. Coliform bacteria are used as an “indicator organism” to assess the possibility of other disease-causing organisms, and their detection would prompt further investigation and/or corrective action. It is different than E.coli which is a bacteria only associated with human or animal faecal matter. When total coliform is found, we resample using a different technique which provides a number of total coliforms for us to analyze in consultation with Public Health and the Ministry of Environment. Based on a risk assessment of a number of factors including: the coliform count, chlorine residuals, upstream/downstream coliform counts, the requirement for a boil water advisory is determined. There was one precautionary (1) Boil Water Advisor y in 2016 which was due to a contractor hitting a private water service and potentially contaminating it with sewage. The sample results showed no contamination. 1 - 2