HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-2024-051 - Summary Water Report - 2023
Community Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: March 25, 2024
SUBMITTED BY: Greg St. Louis, Director, Gas & Water Utilities, 519-741-2600 ext.
4538
PREPARED BY: Angela Mick, Manager, Quality Management and Water Programs,
519-741-2600 ext. 4408
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward(s)
DATE OF REPORT: January 16, 2024
REPORT NO.: INS-2024-051
SUBJECT: Summary Water Report - 2023
RECOMMENDATION:
That the 2023 City of Kitchener Summary Drinking Water Report be received for
information as required by O.Reg. 170/03 Schedule 22 of the Safe Drinking water Act;
and,
further that the City of Kitchener provide a copy of the Summary Drinking Water
Report to the Township of Woolwich and the City of Waterloo as required by Schedule
22 of O.Reg. 170/03.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The key finding of this report is that the City of Kitchener is in compliance with regulatory
water sampling requirements of the reporting period of January 1 to December 31, 2023.
There are no financial implications of this report.
The report supports the delivery of core services.
BACKGROUND:
As outlined in Schedule 22 of the Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O.Reg.170/03) of
the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, a Summary Report is to be prepared and given to the
members of the municipal council. The following information is required to be included in
this report:
that the system failed to meet at any time during the period covered by the report and
specify the duration of the failures; and
(b) for each failure referred to in (a), describe the measures that were taken to correct the
failure.
The report must also include 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, 2023:
The Kitchener Distribution System is part of an Integrated Urban System, meaning
the Regional Municipality of Waterloo is responsible for water treatment and the
development and operation of a trunk water network to distribute treated water to
Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo, Woolwich, and Wilmot. The Region provides
annual summaries for each supply and the information is available on their website
with a link from the Kitchener Utilities (KU) website. Reports from the connected
systems have been or will be received.
A portion of Kitchener (River Ridge area) is supplied by the City of Waterloo.
Kitchener supplies water to a small section of Waterloo (Ira Needles area) and
water travels through the Kitchener distribution system to Breslau. The City of
website.
The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) completed an annual
inspection from June 8-June 20, 2023, which covered June 24, 2022 to June 28,
2023. There were no non-compliances found.
There were 3,980 chlorine residual samples taken and 2,151 bacteriological
samples taken within the distribution system. Of these, there were 20 Adverse
Table 1) and all
resamples were clear.
The Lead Sampling program was restricted to hydrants only in the spring; however
the fall program resumed to pre-pandemic levels. There were three (3) samples from
one location with a lead exceedance in the plumbing system and one hydrant within
the distribution system. The hydrant resample was below the limit for lead.
Homeowners were provided with test results and information about lead from the
Health Unit. The customer with the lead exceedance was aware that they had lead
piping on their side, but the City side was not lead. They replaced their side of the
service. The City is not obligated to complete any additional corrective actions other
than reporting, unless directed by the Medical Officer of Health for the residential
plumbing exceedances.
Summary of AWQIs
An AWQI does not necessarily mean that the water is a risk to the customer. It means that
a potential problem has been identified and corrective actions must be taken to resolve the
problem. City staff work with ministry staff and the local public health unit to resolve the
issue, which generally includes resampling.
Low Chlorine Residual AWQIs
Low chlorine AWQIs can occur in areas of new subdivisions with no houses yet built.
Along with dead end watermains, KU proactively flushes areas with new watermains
until there are homes built and water is being used.
Dead end watermain and new development flushing is a proactive approach to
increase the levels of chlorine in the distribution system. The water is initially
disinfected (primary disinfection) at the treatment plant and sufficient chlorine is
added to protect the water from microbiological contamination as it travels through
the pipes in the distribution system (secondary disinfection). Low chlorine does not
pose a threat to human health; to have an impact to human health, there must be
microbiological contamination and no, or extremely low, chlorine.
Bacteriological AWQIs
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 strains of coliform bacteria. Most are harmless and do
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, a resample is done using a different technique, which
provides a number of total coliforms to analyze in consultation with Public Health
and the MECP. Based on a risk assessment of a number of factors including the
coliform count, chlorine residuals, and upstream/downstream coliform counts, the
requirement for a boil water advisory is determined.
Twelve (12) total coliform AWQIs were at temporary sampling locations within
reconstruction projects. Reconstruction streets have multiple sample ports and
sometimes more than one AWQI would occur on the same day. Temporary
watermains are particularly sensitive as they are above ground systems influenced
by the water heating up in warmer temperatures. This may increase the potential for
bacteriological growth. Warmer weather seems to increase the incidences of Total
Coliform. The additional challenge with temporary watermains is the sample port is
located outside and subject to unsanitary conditions. Many contractors remove the
sampling ports when not in use because they are subject to vandalism/theft. These
ports need to be maintained in a sanitary condition between uses. The general nature
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.
There were two Self Imposed Boil Water Advisories. The first affected
approximately 150 units, on River Road E, was as a result of a watermain break
and potential contamination from the sanitary sewer. The second affected a single
address, on Belleview Ave, was a private side water service repair with potential
sanitary service contamination. Sampling for both were free from contamination.
Table 1 Adverse Water Quality Incident Summary
January 1 to December 31, 2023
# Adverse Type AWQI Date AWQI # Site Name Site Location Results/Notes
(verbal)
1 Lead March 27 161585 Hydrant 1230 205 Brandon 10.6ug/L
Ave
2 Total Coliform May 10 161921 Patricia St Temp Sp4 TC=present
main
3 Self Imposed May 17-20 161969 River Rd E 86 River Rd E Precautionary,
Boil Water between Victoria St sample results were
Advisory N and Frederick St free from
(139 residential contamination.
units plus11
commercial units)
4 Low Chlorine June 7 162126 Hydrant 12765 75 Otterbein F=0.01mg/L
Rd T=0.08mg/L
C=0.07mg/L
5 Total Coliform June 29 162357 Westwood Cres S2-Lot 87 TC=present
Stage 2 Temp main
6 Total Coliform June 30 162373 Westwood Cres S2-Lot 87 TC=1
Stage 2 Temp main
7 Total Coliform July 6 162432 Rossford Cres S5-Lot 107 TC=present
Stage 2 Temp main
8 Total Coliform July 6 162452 Sherwood Ave T2-4-Lot 558 TC=present
Stage 2 Temp main
9 Total Coliform July 12 162532 Bruce St Temp SP4 - 70 TC=present
main Heather Ave
10 Total Coliform July 12 162537 Bruce St Temp SP2 169 TC=present
main Bruce
11 Total Coliform July 18 162625 Westwood Cres S2-Lot 87 TC=present
Stage 2 Temp main
12 Total Coliform July 18 162627 Westwood Cres S4-Lot 86 TC=present
Stage 2 Temp main
13 Total Coliform July 28 162812 KID 15 600 Heritage TC=present
Dr
14 Total Coliform August 17 163055 Sherwood Ave T2-4-Lot 558 TC=present
Stage 2 Temp main
15 Total Coliform August 31 163260 McKenzie Ave T1-3 97 TC=present
Temp Main McKenzie
16 Total Coliform August 31 163265 McKenzie Ave T1-5 113 TC=present
Temp Main McKenzie
17 Total Coliform Oct. 13 163788 34 Lancaster St W 34 Lancaster St TC=present
(new service) W
18 Low Chlorine Oct. 23 163858 KID 140 80 Tartan Ave F=0.04mg/L
T=0.22mg/L
C=0.18mg/L
19 Low Chlorine Nov 9 164008 Hydrant 1848 89 Maple Hill F=0.03mg/L
Dr T=0.17m/L
C=0.14mg/L
20 Self-Imposed Nov 13-17 164020 273 Belleview Ave 273 Belleview Potential
Boil Water Ave contamination 2
sample rounds were
AdvisoryNov free from
14-17 contamination
A summary of the quantities of the water supplied by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo
during the period covered by the report is noted in Table 2. Overall, the water 2023 water
volumes were slightly higher than 2022; however there are variations on a monthly basis,
largely due to weather.
Table 2 - Kitchener Distribution System
Volume of Water Conveyed from the Region of Waterloo Supply System
2023 Monthly Average 2022 Monthly
Variance from
333
Total (m)Day (m)Total (m)Previous Year
January 1,863,148 60,102 1,828,2182%
February 1,694,195 60,507 1,682,4071%
March 1,897,631 61,214 1,843,8573%
April 1,862,674 62,089 1,790,3894%
May 2,109,735 68,056 2,005,5625%
June 2,176,111 72,537 2,116,7583%
July 2,096,766 67,638 2,202,117-5%
August 2,003,517 64,630 2,068,490-3%
September 2,009,712 66,990 1,936,8684%
October 1,965,537 63,404 1,920,0742%
November 1,850,343 61,678 1,790,2953%
December 1,941,850 62,640 1,847,6625%
Purchases from
Waterloo 156,103 160,633-3%
Total 23,627,322 23,193,3302%
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports the delivery of core services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Capital Budget The recommendation has no impact on the Capital Budget.
Operating Budget The recommendation has no impact on the Operating Budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
the council / committee meeting. Water Quality Information is posted on the Kitchener
Utilities website.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
There are no previous reports/authorities related to this matter, however the summary
reports are provided on an annual basis with the last report being INS-2023-010.
APPROVED BY: Denise McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services