Toward Safe Harbours - 2005
Chapter 3: Evaluation of Water Quality Beneficial Use Impairment (ix)
3.2.2 Restoration of Beneficial Use Impairment Guidelines published by the IJC suggest that this BUI is considered restored when: "For treated drinking water supplies: 1) densities of disease-causing organisms or concentrations of hazardous or toxic chemicals or radioactive substances do not exceed human health objectives, standards or guidelines; 2) when taste and odour problems are absent; and 3) when treatment needed to make raw water suitable for drinking does not exceed the standard treatment used in comparable portions of the Great Lakes which are not degraded (i.e. settling, coagulation, disinfection).� (IJC 1991)
3.2.3 Current Monitoring Programs City of Hamilton The City's Environmental Laboratory tests the water for a wide range of microbiological, inorganic and organic parameters before it is distributed. The laboratory also prepares quarterly drinking water reports that are available to the public on the City's website (www.hamilton.ca). The full list of parameters tested is detailed in these reports. They include E. coli (microbiological); arsenic, lead, mercury and nitrate (inorganic); benzene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and vinyl chloride (organic). Region of Halton The Region of Halton's Water Laboratory analyses the water samples taken by operations staff, which exceed both the frequency and the parameters required by all OMOE approvals. The other parts of the Region of Halton's Water System are not considered for this report as they fall outside the Hamilton Harbour watershed. The drinking water reports for the City of Burlington are available to the public on the Region's website (www.region.halton.on.ca). The full range of parameters tested is listed in these reports including any exceedances. The parameters include microbiological, organic and inorganic materials.
3.2.4 Gaps in Information and Monitoring There is sufficient monitoring to ensure safe drinking water. As it is legislated, the monitoring will continue to occur.
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