Water systems throughout Guelph-Eramosa are running clean and clear, according to a report recently presented to council.
At the March 21 council meeting, director of public works Harry Niemi presented the Guelph-Eramosa Drinking Water System Report for 2015.
The Hamilton Drive and Rockwood drinking water systems and the Gazer Mooney subdivision distribution system received no incidents of regulatory non-compliance, no adverse water quality incidents, no non-conformities identified during internal audit, and a 100% rating for microbiological quality, indicating effective removal of pathogens.
“A lot of people take for granted, you know turn the tap on whether you’re in Hamilton Drive or Rockwood or wherever,” said councillor Mark Bouwmeester.
“There’s a lot more behind the scenes and this is sort of a report card, almost like an A-plus report right there.”
Niemi also said the township received top results from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) inspection.
“MOE(CC) does inspections annually as well and we had our inspections early in the new year,” he said.
“March 17th we received from the ministry our Rockwood Drinking water and Hamilton Drive drinking water system inspection report – and on both systems we received 100 per cent.”
Mayor Chis White said he was pleased with the results.
“The top line, you Harry and water staff they’re doing a great job,” White said.
“I think people would consider the water across the township to be top quality and appreciate those results. “
Bouwmeester asked why there was 4% loss in production versus consumption in the Rockwood drinking system.
Niemi explained it could be from leaks due to fire department uses from unmetered sources, inaccurate estimates of how much water was lost when there is a break in the line and older analogue meters offering inaccurate readings (which are being replaced.)
Another area of inquiry was sodium levels.
“It says the water quality results … all meet the federal and provincial standards with the exception of sodium levels, which remain outside the provincial standards,” councillor Louise Marshall said.
“Is that just our sodium’s too high or that there’s no standard?”
White explained sodium is naturally in the water because the township is on a glacial path.
“You can put systems in place in your home to extract the sodium but it’s naturally occurring,” said White.
Niemi said it would only be a possible issue for residents with high blood pressure.
Councillor Corey Woods said, “I know there’s a notice up in Marden there that states there’s high sodium level in the water at the Marden Community Centre so … there are notices out there that there is high sodium.”
