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The City of Orillia’s Drinking Water System is supplied from Lake Couchiching and 3 groundwater wells. The water quality is monitored and sampled routinely to make sure that it is of the highest quality for the City’s 33,000 residents, businesses and visitors. Read below to find out more about the system and the water quality here.
| Orillia's Drinking Water System |
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The drinking water system supplies drinking water and water for fire fighting across the City. The system is a network of water supply, treatment, pressure zones, storage, piping, valves, and hydrants.
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| Cloudy Water |
| At times, your tap water may appear to be cloudy; this is not a health concern. It is usually caused by dissolved air that is released in the form of fine bubbles when cold water becomes warmer. These air bubbles give the water its cloudy appearance. To confirm this, pour some cold water into a glass and observe the changes. You should notice the air bubbles gradually disappear from the bottom of the glass upwards. If your hot water appears cloudy, the water is probably too hot. To solve this problem, lower the temperature setting on your hot water tank. |
| Rusty Water |
| Fire hydrant flushing and watermain flushing or repairs can disturb sediments in the watermains, resulting in red- or brown-coloured tap water. This coloured water is not a health concern and can usually be eliminated by turning on your taps for a few minutes to flush any sediment out of the system.If you notice coloured water when you turn on your hot water taps, you likely need to drain the sediment at the bottom of your hot water tank. Do this by placing a container under the hot water tank faucet and allow the tank to empty for about one minute. Repeat this procedure monthly to prevent further build-up of sediment. |
| Odour |
| Geosmin is a harmless organic compound found in water consisting of a distinct earthy flavour and aroma, and literally translates to "earth smell." It is caused by blue green algae (cyanobacteria) in drinking water reservoirs or other drinking water sources and can be the cause of bad taste and odour in the drinking water. Lake Couchiching, the source water for the water filtration plant, has occurrences of geosmin in the warm weather months, mostly July, August and September. In 2007, the City upgraded the filter media at the treatment facility to granular activated carbon (GAC) which removes the taste and odour created from geosmin. |
| Chlorine |
| Chlorine is used to control bacteria, algae, and viruses that can be found in the water. It's considered one of the most important tools for disinfection of drinking water. Chlorine has actually been in use for more than 100 years and is responsible for ending disease epidemics that were widespread prior to its use. If extra chlorine is used (to ensure disinfection throughout the distribution system) before the water enters your home, there will be an intensified smell of chlorine from your taps due to aerators adding effervescence. |
| Water Hardness |
| All water contains minerals. These are dissolved from the rocks that water passes over in stream beds, rivers and, of course, in the ground itself. The most common minerals found in water are magnesium and calcium, which appear in a form called calcium carbonate. Groundwater contains higher concentrations of these and other minerals than a surface water source. Limestone and other types of rock break down and are picked up by the water as it travels through the ground. It is this higher, natural concentration of minerals that gives us "hard" water. When water is boiled, the whitish residue is calcium carbonate.
View the Water Hardness Levels in Orillia. |
| Sodium |
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Sodium is a common element found in our natural environment and often found in our food and drinking water. Sodium can be naturally occurring in the minerals in the environment, from runoff due to road salt applications, or from various water treatment processes such as water softening. Sodium is not toxic to humans and not a concern for most people; however increased sodium levels in drinking water can be important to those with specific medical conditions. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act and its Municipal Drinking Water Licence, the City is required to test for sodium in the treated water every year. If the result is greater than 20 milligrams per litre (mg/L), the City is required to notify the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as an adverse water quality incident. In Simcoe County, increased sodium levels are found in many of the drinking water sources. Check out this list from the SMDHU showing different drinking water systems that have increased sodium levels. Click here to review the two most recent Annual and Summary Reports for the City’s drinking water system. For more information please contact your medical professional, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (check out their webpage regarding sodium levels in water here) or Laura Smit, Superintendent of Water Treatment and Supply. |
| Lead Water Services |
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Before 1975, lead was commonly used in pipes. Houses built after 1975 typically used copper and, more recently, plastic for water service pipes. The Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard for lead is 10 micrograms per litre. This means that water with a lead concentration below this standard does not represent a health hazard. The water flowing through Orillia's distribution system has a very low level of lead - less than two micrograms per litre, on average. Houses that do not have lead service piping receive water that contains this low level of lead. However, if water travels through a lead pipe between the water main and the house, it can pick up trace amounts of lead from the interior surface of that pipe, increasing the levels of lead. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the City is required to conduct regular monitoring of the drinking water system for lead, pH and alkalinity. The pH and alkalinity of the water indicate how stable the system is to protect against lead leaching into the water from lead pipes or components. These results are shared with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, as well as the local Medical Officer of Health. The monitoring has shown that the City’s water is stable and there is low levels of lead. Helpful Links: Commonly Asked Questions About Lead and Human Health For more information, please contact us. |
| Drinking Water System Annual Reports |
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In accordance with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and Ontario Regulation 170/03, it is the responsibility of the operating authority of the drinking water system to prepare an annual report. The City, as the operating authority, prepares the annual reports. Copies of all reports are available to the public and may be picked up at the Orillia City Centre, 50 Andrew St. S., Suite 300. You can also download an annual report from the listed documents below. |
| Helpful Links |
| Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 |
The water supply is primarily taken from Lake Couchiching, and supplemented with water taken from Wells 1 and 2, located near Couchiching Park, and the West Orillia Well, located at 25 Mulcahy Court. We attempt to make our website documents accessible, however, some of these documents may not completely meet the AODA accessibility requirements. If you require assistance or communication support, please contact 705-326-1502.
