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Print | YORK REGION>Services>Water |
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Water Treatment | |||||||||
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Water & Wastewater | |||||||||
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Each source of water, be it lake water or groundwater, has its own unique characteristics and the type of treatment varies. The treatment process uses chemical and/or physical means to remove impurities from municipally supplied water. Lake sources rely on long, deep intakes to obtain the best possible raw water. Raw water is screened before the addition of chemicals called coagulants that cause very small particles to group together so they can be more easily removed. Sedimentation allows larger particles to settle out before filtration. Filters remove finer levels of impurities. Chlorine is used to remove any hazardous bacteria. Groundwater is naturally filtered as it moves through the earth. Although our groundwater supply is found in well protected, deep aquifer, it too requires the use of a disinfectant. As well, groundwater commonly has higher levels of dissolved minerals like iron and manganese. Chemical control of these minerals is required to avoid unpleasant colour and staining of fixtures and laundry. This is achieved through a process called iron sequestration. A disinfectant is used in both the groundwater and surface water treatment processes in order to ensure your water is protected from harmful bacteria and other microorganisms as it travels through the watermains. In order to achieve this, chlorine or the combination of chlorine and ammonia (process is known as chloramination) are used in York Region's treatment processes in adequate dosages to maintain a "chlorine residual". (Visit our Chloraminated Water Supply page for more details on chloramination.) Chlorine residuals are continuously monitored in York Region water supplies using automated chlorine analyzers at the points where chlorine is applied. Home Treatment DevicesMany people use point-of-use treatment devices to filter their tap water prior to consumption. The intent of these systems is typically to remove some of the odours associated with disinfection that is used by York Region to ensure that the water is safe to drink when it reaches the consumer. Improper usage or maintenance of a home treatment device can result in drinking water with harmful chemical or bacteria levels. The treated water supply in York Region is tested continually, both at the source and throughout the distribution network, for the presence of harmful bacteria and tested regularly for several hundred chemicals. It consistently meets and surpasses all federal guidelines and provincial standards for drinking water quality. (Visit our Water Quality page for details on water quality in your community.) | ||||||||
