The City of Thunder Bay has released its 2017 Drinking Water Quality Annual Report, meeting or exceeding all provincially mandated parameters for drinking water quality.
“Our City’s water is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This report confirms testing continues to show day after day— residents can have confidence in the quality of the drinking water produced from the Bare Point Water Treatment Plant and delivered through the distribution system,” said Michelle Warywoda, director, Environment Division.
Through 2017, an independent certified, laboratory tested approximately 2,000 samples for potential contaminants in Thunder Bay, the results of which are featured below.
Under the provisions of Ontario Regulation 170/03, all municipalities must ensure that a report is prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for each calendar year. The provincial regulations also set out mandatory treatment requirements for facilities using surface water as a source. Water samples are taken and evaluated for all parameters that can impact water quality.
“In the spirit of innovation, we are in partnership with Lakehead University, where students have been conducting extensive research utilizing the Bare Point pilot plant and other plant processes. Outcomes learned are informing the continual improvement process for the future of water treatment,” said Warywoda.
By a 2016 estimate, Thunder Bay holds $608 million in water systems assets, which include Bare Point Water Treatment Plant, one lab, one standpipe, four reservoirs, seven water pumping stations, eight water pressure zones, over 700 kilometres of watermains, and thousands of connections, fire hydrants, access chambers and valves.
Drawing its water from Lake Superior, the city is actively engaged in protecting its source water as per the 2013 Lakehead Source Protection Plan. In its 2016 annual report on the protection plan, prepared by Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, found that all policies outlined in the document were being implemented, with a number of ongoing objectives underway.
