ANNUAL DRINKING WATER REPORTS - WATERLOO

I'm doing the City of Waterloo first because the three systems there also supply most of the water up here in Elmira and St. Jacobs. Recently West Montrose and part of Conestogo were put onto the Region of Waterloo's IUS (Integrated Urban System). In the case of West Montrose the move was desperately needed for decades due to the sub standard water system in use there. While perhaps calling it homemade is a little heavyhanded nevertheless it's very location situated between the Grand River (partial raw water source) and the multiple upgradient septic systems pretty much guaranted ongoing bacteriological challemges. .................................................................................................................. The Waterloo System consists of well W10, the Erb St. Well Supply and the William St. Well Supply. Today we will look at the William St. Well Supply only and the others later in the week. This system has four wells namely W1B, W1C, W2 and W3. These wells are located near the intersection of Regina and William St. in Waterloo. The raw water seems well clear of both E.Coli and Total Coliform bacteria which is a good thing. Both the Turbidity (murkiness) and the Chlorine levels (after treatment) are quite acceptable. Sodium (Na) levels however are much too high at 228 mg/l. Levels greater than 20 mg/l are reported to the Public Health Department and Ministry of Environment every five years. It would be nice of course if they were to actually reduce those Sodium levels in the drinking water. Nitrates and Nitrites are at acceptable levels as are the vast majority of solvents. Unfortunately the solvent Method Detection Limits (MDL) include six different solvents with MDLs at 1 part per billion (ug/l) or higher. That is unacceptable albeit currently legal. Glyphosate the active ingredient has a MDL of 25 ug/l which is totally ridiculous but again legal. ..................................................................................................... Trihalomethanes (THM) are a by-product of disinfection and are occasionally high but still well below the criteria. Haloacetic Acids are similar but unfortunately their concentrations are not included in this report. The real well known and long time stinker is of course Trichloroethylene (TCE). It has been around in Waterloo's drinking water after treatment for many decades and is likely to so continue to the shame of our authorities in my opinion. Through both dilution with multiple wells and possibly pumping to waste (notice there is no W1A well mentioned in this report) the concentrations are below the 5 ug/l or parts per billion criteria but are regularly between 1 and 2 ug/l. The sources decades ago of TCE were likely Canbar, Sunar and even if my memory serves correctly, Seagram's, all former nearby industries. ................................................................................................... Lastly we have chloramines fairly consistently exceeding half the standard. Chloramines are another by-product of disinfection and can be harmful to one's health. I am a little surprised at their concentrations as bacteria really don't seem to be the problem. I hope that they aren't being used simply to mask or improve the taste of the water.