Report to: General Committee                                                    Report Date: January 06, 2010

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Annual Water Quality Report (January – December, 2009)

                                           

PREPARED BY:               Fiona McArthur, Ext 2449

                                            Waterworks, Water Quality Coordinator

 

RECOMMENDATION:

1)         THAT the report titled “Annual Water Quality Report (January-December 2009)” as required by Schedule 22 of Ontario Regulation 170/03 enclosed herein be received;

 

2)         THAT the Annual 2009 Regulatory Water Quality Report (Attachment “A”), contains  information for the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) on water supply and quality as required by Section 11 of Ontario Regulation 170/03, be received;

 

3)         THAT Council directs staff to post the Annual 2009 Detailed Regulatory Water Quality Report on the Town’s website and that it be made available and provided to residents upon request in hard copy version on or before February 28, 2010;

 

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

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The annual report enclosed herein, informs and updates Council on the quality of water delivered through the drinking water system to the residents of Markham during the past year (2009).

 

Any issues regarding drinking water quality in Markham during the period from January 1 to December 31, 2009 are detailed as required under Ontario Regulation 170/03.

 

This report to Council is a summary of the detailed technical annual report (enclosed as Attachment “A”). This detailed annual report (Attachment “A”) will be posted on Markham’s web site and made available to the public on or before February 28, 2010.

 

Markham purchased 31,138,148 m3 of water over 365 days from the Region of York and distributed it to residential, industrial, commercial and institutional customers. Throughout 2009, the Markham drinking water system was well maintained, proactively managed and delivered high quality of water to the residents.

 

Representative water quality sampling was undertaken throughout the distribution system and analyzed according to O. Reg 170/03. In total, ten (10) adverse water quality incidents were reported to the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) for 2009 (out of 10,312 tests, 0.10%).   Nine were related to the detection of microbiological indicators in the drinking water system.  A single instance where the combined chlorine reading was below 0.25 mg/L was also reported.

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

PURPOSE:

To inform Council, as owner of the drinking water system, on the quality of drinking water provided in 2009 to the residents in Markham through the water distribution system and in doing so, meet the requirements of Ontario Regulation 170/03 Schedule 22.

To inform Council on the more detailed technical annual water quality report (included as Attachment”A”) prepared and intended to be made available to the public on or before February 28, 2010 through the Markham website and at the Contact Centre. This annual report details the drinking water system, sampling activity, corrective action and any major expenses undertaken in 2009.

BACKGROUND:

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

 

The 2009 Annual Summary Report to Council, enclosed herein, is intended to inform Council on the performance of the Water Distribution System over the past year and to provide information which meets Ontario Regulation 170/03 concerning Markham’s Drinking Water Distribution System.

 

Enclosed as Attachment “A” is the Annual 2009 Detailed Regulatory Water Quality Report which is intended to be a stand alone document.  This detailed technical and statistical report summarizes the 2009 existing water distribution system, results of tests, corrective actions and any major expenses. 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 on or before February 28, 2010.    

 

In addition, the Waterworks department submits population and contact updates to the MOE on an annual basis or as needed.

 

2009 Drinking Water System Information:

The Town of Markham system is strictly a distribution system. We do not operate any treatment plants 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 supplies it to various municipalities including Markham through trunk watermains from York and Toronto. The Town of Markham purchases its water entirely from the Region of York, and distributes this water to its residents through metered connections.

 

Water Supplied During 2009:

The Town of Markham purchased 31,138,148 m3 of water over 365 days from the Region of York through 18 metered connections. This amounts to an average of 2,594,845 m3/month.  In Markham 67.6% of water (21,061,708 m3) is consumed by our 303,000 residents at a rate of 190 l/person/day (0.190 m3/person/day).  The additional 32.4% (10,076,439 m3) of water is consumed by our industrial, commercial and institutional clients.

 

 

Drinking Water Quality Sampling Results:

 

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, 2009 to December 31, 2009, the total number of water samples collected and tested by Waterworks Operators was 10,312. These samples are tested for the presence of bacteria (Escheria coli, Total Coliforms, and Heterotrophic Plate Count), for chemical analysis (Trihalomethanes, Lead (Pb), Nitrate & Nitrite, organic chemical scan and inorganic chemical scan) and for chlorine residuals as required. Sodium and Fluoride concentrations were not tested in 2009 as this test is required every 5 years and was tested last in 2005.

 

For the calendar year January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009; an annual regulatory report was prepared (MOE format) in January 2010 on the Markham Water Distribution System and is enclosed as Attachment “A”.  This report will be posted prior to Feb. 28, 2010 as required by the Regulation.  In this report, we are detailing the ten (10) adverse sampling results/incidents which are summarized below:

 

In 2009, there were 9 reports of adverse water quality incidents (out of 10,312 samples) which did not meet the Ontario’s Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O. Reg. 170/03) required parameters with respect to microbiological indicators.   

 

Additionally, there was a single incidence of a low chlorine adverse to the system which was reported retroactively.  This low chlorine was registered during dead-end flushing, designed to refresh water in dead-ends of the distribution system.  Dead-ends in the system can result in a longer than average retention times for the water which can lead to chlorine decay.

 

Markham exceeds the required number of samples tested for microbiological parameters every week during our regular sampling process and by taking additional samples following every watermain repair, regardless of severity.  These proactive procedures could lead to an increase in the number of reported adverse water quality incidents.  However, they are necessary to enable faster response to potential adverse conditions.  These procedures following watermain breaks also ensure that the Town maintains compliance with the requirement to report observation incidents other than adverse test results which indicate that disinfection has not been maintained.

 

 

Adverse Water Quality – Presence of Bacteria

Of the 2,517 samples tested for microbiology during 2009 on the drinking water system as part of our regular sampling, only nine (9) samples detected the presence of coliforms which led to eight (8) separate adverse water quality incidences. The detection of these coliforms in water samples is considered to be an indicator of adverse water quality.  Immediate corrective action includes flushing the site and retesting to see if there is the continued detection of coliform bacteria.  The Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) test is a method of measuring the aerobic bacterial content in water. Markham’s past experience has been that the bacterial presence in water samples was a result of external influences rather than being caused by the water supply itself.

 

Upon being notified by the York-Durham Regional Environmental Lab (YDREL) that a given sample did not meet the water quality regulations for bacteria, Waterworks operators notified the York Region Medical Officer of Health and the 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 results were achieved.

 

One (1) of the eight AWQIs for total coliform was issued as a result of a resample failure.  On this occasion the initially affected site, as well as the upstream location, were found to be positive for the presence of coliforms upon resample.  In this case, a single adverse water quality incident is declared. Corrective Action was to continue to flush then re-sample the water at the affected sites, as well as at upstream and downstream locations, until satisfactory results were achieved in samples taken at both 24 and 48 hours after the adverse sample was collected.

 

A single sample collected by the Ministry of the Environment Drinking Water Inspector during the 2009 annual system inspection revealed the presence of fecal streptococci.   While testing for fecal streptococci is not required under the Ontario Safe Drinking Water Act (OSDWA), the detection of this organism is considered to be an adverse water quality incident.  The site was immediately flushed and resampling did not reveal the presence of any fecal streptococci and the situation was immediately resolved.

 

Adverse Water Quality - Low Chlorine

 

Markham is a distribution only system which distributes chloraminated water to its residents.  Chloramines are used to provide long-term secondary disinfection while the water moves through the distribution system.  The O.170/03 requires that we maintain a combined chlorine residual in our system at or above 0.25 mg/L.  Any readings below 0.25 mg/L are required to be reported to the MOE.  Corrective action is then to flush the site until the combined chlorine readings are above the levels at which adequate disinfection is achieved. 

 

Markham proactively conducts a dead-end flushing program which is designed to improve water quality by increasing the flushing of hydrants in areas where a longer retention time occurs.  On September 10, 2009, an operator was flushing a hydrant under this program. During this process, he recorded a combined chlorine reading of 0.14 mg/L.  The operator continued to conduct all necessary corrective action procedures by flushing the hydrant until a level of chlorine sufficient to ensure disinfection was achieved.  However, due to an oversight, this low chlorine reading was not brought to the attention of the supervisor and the adverse water quality incident was not reported at the time.   On January 18, 2010, this reporting deficiency was discovered and retroactively filed with the MOE and York Region Public Health.  A complete root cause analysis has been conducted and it was found that the operator was unaware that dead-end flushing readings after one minute of flushing were required to be reported to the MOE.  The operator has been advised accordingly and corrective measures are being implemented to ensure that a repeat of this incident does not occur.  It is important to note that because the operator conducted all required corrective action steps the safety of the Markham Drinking Water System was never compromised.

 

For more detailed information on sampling results and water quality compliance, please refer to Attachment “A” – Annual 2009 Detailed Regulatory Water Quality Report.

 

 

 

5 Year Trending of Water Sampling:

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusions:

The drinking water distributed to the Town of Markham residents in 2009 continues to be of high quality. During the operation of the water distribution system during 2009, there were very few adverse reports (0.10% of all system tests undertaken) and these were immediately resolved. The drinking water system is maintained by Waterworks with continual improvements and programs in place to ensure excellent water quality.

 

In 2008, the Town implemented a Quality Management System (QMS) which complies with the MOE Drinking Water Quality Management Standard (DWQMS) as required under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Compliance is required in order to achieve accreditation and operate the Drinking Water System.  The Town received a new licence under this system in 2009.  In addition, under DWQMS we strive for continual improvement to our system and provided a framework for conducting a root cause analysis when a reporting deficiency was noted.

 

One of the DWQMS components specifically addresses the documentation of system sampling, monitoring and testing processes of the drinking water system. Implementation of the QMS has enhanced the effectiveness and performance of our processes through standardization of procedures and documentation.

 

Attachment A: Annual 2009 Detailed Regulatory Water Quality Report

 

The format for the Annual Detailed Regulatory Water Quality Report intended to be made public on or before February 28, 2010 was established by the Ministry of the Environment.

This report is attached as Attachment “A” and was prepared in January 2010. The contents include:

1.                  A brief description of the drinking water system.

2.                  A description of where the report 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 regulatory testing

            (York-Durham Regional Environmental Laboratory).

 

The Town of Markham has met the Regulation 170/03 submission dates and requirements of reporting for the annual water quality report.

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

Not Applicable

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not Applicable

 

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

Not Applicable

 

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

The 2009 Annual Water Quality Report on the drinking water system meets legislative requirements and is consistent with the Town’s corporate goals of Infrastructure Management and Quality Community.

 

These goals enhance several key Waterworks service delivery components:

·              Proactive and preventative strategies to identify and manage risks to public health;

·              Continuous Improvement of Waterworks activities and service delivery;

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Not Applicable

 

The undersigned represent the Top Management of Town of Markham’s Drinking Water Distribution System, and by signing below the Top Management of the Operating Authority has reviewed the deficiencies, decisions and action items identified in the Management Review, and hereby communicating these results to the Owner.

 

RECOMMENDED BY:

 

                                     _________________________        

                                      Jerry Klaus,

                                      General Manager, Waterworks

 

 

                                      _________________________       

                                      Peter Loukes, P. Eng.

                                      Director, Operations

 

                                     

                                      _________________________       

                                      Brenda Librecz

                                      Commissioner, Community and Fire Services

 

 

                                      _________________________       

                                      John Livey

                                      CAO, Town of Markham

 

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

 

Attachment “A”— Annual 2009 Detailed Regulatory Water Quality Report