Report to: General Committee- Community Service & Environment

Report Date: February 23, 2007

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Annual Water Quality Report (January – December, 2006)

PREPARED BY:               Karen Dennison ext. 2519

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Annual (2006) Summary Report to Council as required by Schedule 22 of Ontario Regulation 170/03 enclosed herein be received.

 

THAT the Annual (2006) Regulatory Report to Ministry of the Environment (MOE) (Attachment “A”), comprised of Parts I, II & III-Form 2, III-Form 6 for the Ministry of the Environment on water supply and quality as required by Section 11 of Ontario Regulation 170/03 be received.

 

THAT Council directs staff to post the Annual (2006) Regulatory Report to MOE on the Towns website and that it be made available and provided to residents upon request in hard copy version.

 

AND THAT Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The annual report summarizes the detailed water quality report required by O. Regulation 170/03 (in MOE Format and posted on Markham’s web site) and informs council of any issues regarding drinking water quality in Markham during the period from January 1 to December 31, 2006).

 

Markham purchased 32,717.639 m3 of water over 365 days from the Region of York and distributed it to customers. Representative water quality sampling was undertaken and analyzed according to O. Reg 170/03. Eleven adverse water quality incidents were reported to the MOE over 2006 (out of 10,083 tests). Five were for bacteria (total coliform); 3 for deficient chlorine; and 3 were observation incidents due to severe watermain break conditions.

 

The MOE inspected the Markham water distribution system (procedures, policies and records) on March 14-16, 2007 and found no incidence of Regulatory non-compliance. The MOE provided a list of best practice recommendations for further improvements. Implementation of a By-Law addressing back flow prevention is recommended.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

1. Purpose                     2. Background                      3. Discussion                        4. Financial        

 

5. Others (Environmental, Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units)             6. Attachment(s)

 

PURPOSE:

To provide to Council the Annual (2006) Summary Report to Council as required under Ontario Regulation 170/03 Schedule 22. Report enclosed herein.

 

To report to Council on the Annual (2006) Regulatory Report to MOE. The MOE report was prepared in Ministry of the Environment (MOE) format on February 23, 2007 in accordance with the regulatory requirements (Section 11 of O. Reg. 170/03) and is included as Attachment “A” to this report.

 

BACKGROUND:

In order to meet Regulatory requirements and to strengthen customer confidence in the Town’s drinking water quality supply, waterworks has prepared two annual update reports on the status of drinking water quality in Markham as described below.

 

The Annual (2006) Summary Report to Council, enclosed herein, is intended to inform Council on the performance of the Water Distribution System in the past year and to provide information on Markham Water Distribution System’s meeting of Ontario Regulation 170/03 requirements.

 

The Annual (2006) Regulatory Report to MOE is a technical and statistical document submitted in MOE format to the MOE by February 28, 2007 summarizing the existing water distribution system, results of tests, corrective actions and any major expenses. The Markham report was prepared on February 23, 2007 and meets regulation requirements. The Regulation also requires that this report be made available to the public free of charge in hard copy and be posted on the Town of Markham’s website. 

 

1.     Annual Summary Report to Council (Ontario Regulation 170/03 Schedule 22):

The Annual Summary Report to Council as required by Ontario Regulation 170/03 Schedule 22 covers system information with respect to the preceding calendar year. The MOE inspected the Town of Markham system on March 14 - 16th, 2007 for the 2006 operational period. A report documenting the MOE inspection is expected in May, 2007.

 

System Information:

 

The Town of Markham system is strictly a distribution system. We do not operate any treatment plants under our jurisdiction and therefore the rated capacity of our system as requested by the MOE is not applicable. The Region of York receives treated water from the City of Toronto and the Region of Peel, stores and feeds it to various municipalities including Markham through trunk watermains. The Town of Markham purchases its water entirely from the Region of York and it is delivered to the system at various supply points. The Town of Markham distributes this water to its residents.

 

Water supplied during 2006:

The Town of Markham purchased 32,717,639 m3 of water over 365 days from the Region of York. This amounts to a monthly average of 2,726,636 m3/month.

 

 

Water Purchase from Region of York over last 5 Years
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ontario’s Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O.Reg.170/03) requires all drinking water system owners to collect and test a minimum prescribed number of representative water quality samples. It further requires that drinking water system owners prepare an annual report (in MOE format) on the operation and the quality of drinking water within their jurisdictional boundaries. Markham Waterworks Department has complied with this requirement.

 

During the period January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006, the total number of water samples collected and tested by Waterworks operators and sent to the York-Durham Regional Environmental Laboratory (YDREL) for analysis was 10,083. These samples are tested for the presence of bacteria (Fecal Coliform, Total Coliform, Background Colony Count and Heterotrophic Plate Count) and for chemical analysis (Chlorine residual, Trihalomethane, Lead and Nitrate & Nitrite) as required. Sodium and Fluoride) were not tested in 2006 as this test is required every 5 years and was tested last in 2005.

 

For the calendar year January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006; an annual regulatory report was prepared (MOE format) on February 23, 2007 on the Markham Water Distribution System and is attached as Attachment “A”. In this report, we are detailing the eleven (11) adverse sampling results/incidents which are summarized below:

 

In 2006, there were 11 reports of adverse water quality incidents (out of 10,083 samples) which did not meet the Ontario’s Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O. Reg. 170/03) required parameters. Five incidents were for the presence of bacteria; 3 for deficient chlorine residual and 3 observation incidents as a result of severe watermain break conditions. In 2006 Markham proactively started reporting severe watermain breaks to the Ministry of the Environment and the Public Health Department to indicate that the system may have been directing water to the public with adverse properties as a result of the watermain break.  At the same time Waterworks initiated a procedure to test a water sample for microbial contamination following every watermain repair regardless of its severity.  These proactive steps have led to an increase in the number of reported adverse water quality incidents but they are necessary to enable faster response to potential adverse conditions, and to ensure that the Town maintains compliance with the requirement to report observations, other than an adverse test result, that indicates that disinfection has not been maintained.

 

Of the 5 samples with adverse results for bacteria testing; all five samples tested positive for total coliform. The detection of coliform in water samples is considered to be a general indicator of water quality. The HPC test is a method of measuring the aerobic bacterial content in water. Markham’s past experience has been that the bacterial presence in samples was a result of sample handling or insufficient preparation of the sample at site. Upon being notified by YDREL that a given sample did not meet the water quality regulations for bacteria, Waterworks operators notified the York Region Medical Officer of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), flushed the affected parts of the water distribution system and re-sampled the water at the affected sites as well as at upstream and downstream locations until satisfactory chlorine residual results were achieved.

 

For the 3 samples that had deficient chlorine residual test results and for the 3 observation incidents (during severe watermain break occurrence), notification was sent by Waterworks to both the MOH and MOE. The system was then flushed until acceptable chlorine residual was established and results were recorded.

 

For more detailed information on sampling results and water quality compliance, please refer to Attachment “A” - Annual Regulatory Report for MOE.

 

Waterworks continues to undertake a program of dead-end flushing and maintenance of chlorine in the distribution system for secondary disinfection of drinking water.  Two new automatic flushing stations were installed at dead-ends, and staff have made several improvements to this technology.  This brings the total number of auto-flushing stations to four, and 18 more locations are in the design stage.  These stations greatly reduce the amount of staff time required this task, and by being automated they can provide flushing on week-ends and off-hours when staff are not available. The optimized and targeted dead end flushing program has reduced both flushing time and frequency of flushing visits hence resulting in operational savings and a decreased number of adverse chorine residual test results in 2005.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.    Annual Regulatory Report to MOE

(Ontario Regulation 170/03 Section 11):

 

The format for the Annual Regulatory Report to MOE is established by the Ministry of the Environment and report preparation is due February 28, 2007. The detailed report attached as Attachment “A” was prepared on February 23, 2007 and provides:

1.      A brief description of the drinking water system.

2.      A description of how the Annual Regulatory Report to MOE has been distributed and where it will be located and made available to the public.

3.      A summary of water quality testing results for microbiological, inorganic chemical, and organic chemical parameters.

4.      A summary of adverse water quality reports.

5.      Identification of the Laboratory that Markham is using for regulation testing (YRDEL).

 

The Town of Markham has met the Regulation 170/03 submission dates, requirements of reporting and has been inspected by the MOE (On March 15). Receipt of the MOE inspection report is expected in May, 2007.

 

3.    MOE Inspection of the Water Distribution System

 

The annual inspection of the Markham Water Distribution system occurred on March 14-16, 2007.  The MOE Inspector reviewed the Waterworks procedures, policies and records for the year 2006.  The Inspector found no incidents of Regulatory non-compliance during the period.

 

The MOE Inspector provided the following list of Best Practice Issues and Recommendations.  These recommendations are provided by the MOE to identify areas where drinking water quality assurance can be further improved or protected.

 

  1. It is recommended that the Town of Markham draft and implement a By-law to protect the water distribution system from contamination resulting from cross-connection, back-flow and back-siphonage from private property.

 

  1. It is recommended that the Town of Markham continue to require the use of back-flow preventers on all fire hydrants where individuals/companies purchase water from the distribution system via hydrant meters, and that Markham continue to deny access to fire hydrants for private companies that may be using water to mix pesticides or fertilizers.

 

  1. It is recommended that the Town of Markham, Region of York and the City of Toronto develop a written agreement for the supply of water to the Town.

 

  1. It is recommended that the Town of Markham, Region of York and the City of Toronto develop a written agreement for the notification process for any potential adverse water quality condition of the treated water which may arise or be identified during the different stages of ownership.

 

  1. It is recommended that the Town of Markham, Region of York develop a written agreement to indicate which operating authority has responsibility for the transmission pipes and other equipment associated with the Water Supply System.

 

The Town has responded to the recommendations from the MOE as follows:

 

  1. Recommendation No.1 – The protection of the drinking water system from contamination from cross-connections, backflow and back-siphonage is provided through the application of the Ontario Building Code, and this function is administered in the Town by the Building Department. Waterworks has prepared a draft By-Law to protect the water distribution system from contamination resulting from cross-connection, back-flow and back-siphonage from private property.  The By-law in its draft form would require all industrial /commercial /institutional properties owners to perform annual testing of backflow prevention devices and assemblies.  The By-Law would also require property owners to undertake a cross-connection and backflow prevention risk survey every three years to ensure that the drinking water system is adequately protected according to the requirements of the Building Code.

 

  1. Recommendation No.2 - Markham will continue to require the use of backflow preventers for all water sales through fire hydrants.  Waterworks will investigate further improvements to the hydrant meter permit system to exclude private companies that may be using water to mix pesticides or fertilizers.

 

  1. Recommendation No.3 - The supply of water in York Region is governed by Section 11 of the Municipal Act which indicates that the upper tier municipality (Region of York) has the exclusive “Sphere of Jurisdiction” over the production, treatment and storage of water.  York Region has written agreements with the City of Toronto and the Region of Peel for the purchase and supply of water to the Region. Markham will continue to engage the Region in discussions leading to a written agreement.

 

  1. Recommendation No.4 – There is currently a written protocol between the Town, Region of York and the City of Toronto that describes the notification process for any potential adverse water quality condition of the treated water which may arise or be identified during the different stages of ownership. Markham will continue to engage the Region in discussions leading to a written agreement in this regard.

 

  1. Recommendation No.5  - The Region of York developed a draft Policy in April 2006 that defined the Region’s jurisdiction and responsibilities for water infrastructure and wastewater infrastructure. Markham will continue to engage the Region in discussions leading to adoption of these policies by Regional Council and Town Council.

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

“Not Applicable”

 

 

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE: (external link)

“Not Applicable”

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

“None”

 

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

“None”

 

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

“None”

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

“None”

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    ________________________          ________________________

                                      Jerry Klaus                                         Peter Loukes

                                      General Manager, Waterworks           Director, Operations

 

                                     

                                      ________________________         

                                      Jim Sales, Commissioner,                               

                                      Community & Fire Services               

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

 

Attachment “A”—Annual (2006) Regulatory Report for MOE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q:\Commission Share\Operations and Asset Management\Reports\2007\Waterworks\Annual Water Quality Report (January – December 2006).doc