THE NORTH DUMFRIES WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

The North Dumfries System consists of four Water Systems namely the Ayr Water Supply System, the Branchton System, the Lloyd Brown Distribution System and the Roseville Water System. The Ayr System consists of three wells A1, A2, and A3. In 2020, the Northumberland watermain was replaced at a cost of $820,000. None of the three wells were shut down during 2020 and bacteria results in the raw water were very low as was Turbidity and chlorine levels in the treated water were normal. Wow am I ever noticing how much lower Sodium levels are outside the three cities of Kitchenr, Waterloo and Cambridge. These wells in Ayr are so low that Sodium is actually below the Guideline of 20 mg/l. Nitrates are acceptable and Nitrites are very low which is excellent. Solvents and herbicides have the usual high Method Detection Limits (MDL) for too many compounds and the results are from 2019 testing. Glyphosate's MDL is through the roof at 25 ppb. Both Haloacetic Acids (HAA) and Trihalomethanes (THM) have acceptable results and more importantly they are published here in this report. ................................................................................................................... The Branchton Meadows Water System at the extreme south end of Cambridge consists of wells BM2 and BM3. A "controller" was replaced cosying $38,000 in 2020. Whether that caused the two week shutdown of well BM3 in 2020 we are not advised. Turbidity and chlorine levels are both acceptable. Sodium levels are not although they are much worse throughout the three major cities in the Region. Nitrates and Nitrites are very low. Solvents and herbicide MDLs are far too high in about eight instances. Nine when you include Glyphosate (active ingredient in Roundup herbicide) at 25 ppb. The testing dates for solvents and herbicides was 2019. HAAs and THM results are published here and they are both present although below the provincial criteria. ................................................................................................................ The Lloyd Brown Distribution System is supplied via a connection to the Cambridge disribution system. Hence the water for this subdivision is typical of that throughout the City of Cambridge as described here earlier. There are provisions for automatically topping up chlorine levels in case the incoming water from Cambridge is low. This may explain the "*Short term spike" of 4.99 mg/l which is far too high. There are no results here for solvents and herbicides as the water is supplied by the Cambridge Distribution System. HAA and THM results are provided and HAAs are very low whereas THMs are not although only one of the four samples is much too high although still below the very high criteria of 100 parts per billion (ppb.). ............................................................................................................ The Roseville Water System consists of wells R5 and R6. There is no clarification as to whether there used to be wells named R1-4. Interestingly despite all raw water samples taken having no E.Coli or Total Coliforms present, nevertheless there were four adverse incidents involving Total Coliforms being present in the water. Corrective actions included resampling; resampling, disinfection restored, mains flushed; and resampling, mains flushed. These incidents took place in July (2x) and August (2x). Turbidity and chlorine levels were normal. I believe that we have a new winner with Sodium being at only 9.24 mg/l. The Guideline is 20 mg/l and the three cities are generally much, much higher than the Guideline. Nitrates and Nitrites are very low. Solvent and herbicide MDLs are still too high in numerous instances and the results are from 2019. Glyphosate's (Roundup) MDL at 25 ppb. is disgraceful. HAA and THM results are published here and while present are well below the criteria. ....................................................................................................... So we have lots of various toxins present including by-products of disinfection (HAA, THM, chloramines, chlorine) throughout Waterloo Region. Low level solvents whether TCE or numerous others should not be acceptable at any measurable concentrations (with very low MDLs) in our drinking water. Sodium levels throughout the tri-cities are at dangerous levels for some/many of our citizens. Lead levels are under reported and asbestos levels which likely/hopefully are not throughout Waterloo Region, certainly exist in some communities such as Elmira and possibly in older subdivisions in K-W and Cambridge. Asbestos levels are not reported anywhere. NDMA results were published in all of two reports only throughout the Region. Far too many known industrial solvents, chemicals and pharmeceuticals simply are ignored in these reports. These Region of Waterloo Annual Reports, in my opinion are primarily a public relations tool for our local politicians to pretend that our water is safe and healthy. Somewhere down the line they will suddenly advise that a pipeline to the Great Lakes (Lake Erie?) is required because our groundwater is pooched from numerous different sources.