Drinking Water FAQ | Pentest Site

View the frequently asked questions below to learn more about water in EG:

The water supplied to all residents is safe and meets all legislative and regulatory requirements under the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. The Town's licensed water operations staff sample water daily in all of our systems to ensure our drinking water is safe for consumption.

Where do we get our water from?

York Region is responsible for the treatment, storage, and supply of water to the Town. The water is a blended source of both ground-based wells and surface-based from Lake Ontario.

Why does my water have a chlorine taste or smell?

Chlorine, or the combination of chlorine and ammonia (chloramination) is a disinfectant used in the treatment processes by York Region to ensure your water is protected from harmful bacteria and other microorganisms as it travels through the watermains.

What is the hardness of my drinking water?

Most of the water supplied to the Town from York Region is from ground water wells, which contain naturally occurring minerals such as calcium, iron, and manganese. Water with a higher mineral content contributes to a higher degree of hardness. This average hardness varies between the Town's different water systems, and can be measured in parts per million (ppm) or grains per gallon (gpg) of Calcium Carbonate:

Mount Albert = 315ppm or 18.4gpg
Holland Landing/ Queensville/ Sharon = 175ppm or 10.2gpg
Yonge/ Green Lane = 170ppm or 9.9gpg

Why is the water sometimes discoloured and contain sediment?

Red/yellow/brown (cold water)

The primary cause of discolouration or sediment is the presence of the naturally occurring mineral iron in York Regions source water wells.

Iron is not considered dangerous to human health but rather an aesthetic issue.

Until iron is removed during the initial treatment process, the Town cannot control the concentrations of iron, and therefore recommends routine maintenance as the only solution to manage it.

If your cold water is discoloured, run your tap for five to ten minutes starting closest to the source and working your way up to the extremities.

White

Water becomes 'milky' when air is trapped in the system during transmission. When this happens, your water is still safe to drink. To check that it is air, pour some water into a clear glass and wait a minute, if you notice the water gradually clearing from the bottom, it means that it is air.

Red/yellow/brown

Like cold water, the discolouration is caused by naturally occurring iron from the source water wells.

To reduce the aesthetic issues Iron may present, York Region treats the water with a method called iron sequestration in a process involving the addition of Sodium Silicate. This treatment method keeps iron from accumulating on fixtures, however when water is heated in a hot water tank, the iron sequestration breaks down, allowing the iron to fall out of suspension and build up in the bottom of the tank. It is found more often in tanks with high water temperatures and low water usage. Therefore, discoloured water is more commonly noticed when using the hot water, such as filling a bathtub.

Draining and flushing the hot water tank regularly will help reduce noticeable discolouration and sediment.

Why are there variations in my water pressure?

Water pressure may be impacted by local demand such as peak periods of use, sprinkler systems in the summer months, regular maintenance procedures by the Town or Region, mineral build-up within your plumbing (water softener, filters, etc.) and emergency events such as fires.

If you experience a significant drop in water pressure, please ensure that there are no leaks anywhere on the private side of the water service or in the home. If installed, set your water softener and filter on by-pass and check that tap aerators are not obstructed by mineral deposits to ensure they are not causing the pressure issues.

For more information, please email the Water Department or call Customer Service at 905-478-4282.