WCWC Pilot Testing Resources
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre’s pilot testing service gives operators the opportunity to obtain site specific information on different treatment options for addressing water quality challenges. We have a wide array of equipment housed in our Technology Demonstration Facility that can be customized in our facility or at your remote location.
Contact a member of our Research and Technology team today to discuss how we can help you at inquiry@wcwc.ca.
Resources produced from past pilot testing projects can be found below.
Project Reports
- A Large Municipal Residential Drinking Water System Hybrid Coagulation/Flocculation followed by Direct Filtration Jar Test Study *NEW*
- A study to investigate alternative secondary disinfection methods and disinfection by-product formation in the community’s drinking water supply
- A study to monitor and reduce disinfection by-products in a First Nation’s drinking water supply
- A study to reduce disinfection by-products in a First Nation community’s drinking water supply
- Bench-Scale Testing to Assess the Efficacy of Adding GAC for the Reduction of Disinfection By-Products *NEW*
- Chloride Sulfate Mass Ratio Bench-Scale Testing
- Chlorine Demand/Decay and Simulated Distribution System Disinfection By-Product Testing for a Large Municipal Residential System in Ontario
- Chlorine Demand Testing for the Palgrave-Caledon East Drinking Water System *NEW*
- Coagulant Review Bench-Scale Testing
- Colgan Drinking Water System Bench-Scale Study
- Conventional and Dissolved Air Flotation Jar Testing
- Conventional Treatment Optimization for Big Grassy First Nation
- Decentralized Pilot Testing for Wauzhushk Onigum Nation
- Effect of Chlorine Detention Times on Disinfection By-Products
- Effect of Fixed Bed Ion Exchange Process in Addition to Enhanced Coagulation on the Reduction of High Levels of Organics
- Evaluation of Greensand Filtration Operation for the Reduction of Manganese
- Exploring Iron Reduction Options for a Groundwater Source
- Optimization of Conventional Treatment Processes for Residual Aluminum Control
- Optimizing Coagulant Doses by Jar Tests
- Optimizing Regeneration Process of Greensand Filtration to Reduce Disinfection By-Products
- Options for the Reduction of Arsenic from a Groundwater Source
- Options for the Removal of Arsenic from the Island Lake Drinking Water System *NEW*
- Reducing Arsenic in the Shakespeare Drinking Water System
- Reducing Disinfection By-Product Precursors to Control Trihalomethanes in a Large Municipal Residential Drinking Water System
- Reducing natural organic matter and disinfection by-products in drinking water *NEW*
- Reduction of Arsenic in a Small Drinking Water System
- Reduction of iron and hydrogen sulfide from a well system using oxidation and filtration
- Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
- Sampling and analysis of potential surface water sources using conventional jar testing methods for Wahta Mohawk First Nation
- Small Systems Technology Assessment for Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxin Removal
- Taste and Odour Control Strategies with Advanced Oxidation Processes and Granular Activated Carbon
- The effects of increasing the water reservoir size on disinfection by-product formation in a Lake Superior, slow sand water treatment system *NEW*
- Ultrafiltration and Granular Activated Carbon Pilot Testing with the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation
- Water Quality Testing and Chlorine Demand Testing of a Decentralized Drinking Water System *NEW*
To view presentations that have been delivered at conferences highlighting some of these projects, visit our Pilot Testing Presentations post.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water or view these similar posts.
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Health Canada Documents for Public Review & Comment
When Health Canada has intent to update guidelines related to drinking water, a technical guideline document is developed to propose these changes. The document is first reviewed by external experts before seeking comments from the public during a limited consultation period.
Below you can access open and closed consultations. Information to submit comments is located within each link on Health Canada’s website.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Open Consultations
- Draft guidance on sampling and mitigation measures for controlling corrosion (all comments must be received before February 15, 2023)
- Consultation: Draft technical document guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality – Antimony (all comments must be received before March 8, 2023)
- Draft objective for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Canadian drinking water (all comments must be received before April 12, 2023)
Recently Closed Consultations
- Share your ideas: Consultation on amendments to the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations
- Consultation: Guidelines for Canadian recreational water quality: Microbiological pathogens and biological hazards
Past Consultations
- Consultation: Proposed Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for Malathion
- Consultation: Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality – Understanding and Managing Risks in Recreational Waters
- Consultation: Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality: Indicators of Fecal Contamination
- Consultation: Proposed guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality for dimethoate and omethoate
- 4-Chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic Acid (MCPA) in Drinking Water: Guideline Technical Document for Public Consultation
- Consultation: Guidelines for recreational water quality: Physical, aesthetic and chemical characteristics
- Consultation: Proposed guideline for Bromoxynil in drinking water
- Consultation: Cyanobacteria and their Toxins in Recreational Water – Guideline Technical Document
- Proposed guideline technical document for dicamba in drinking water
- Boron in Drinking Water: Guideline Technical Document for Public Consultation
- Guidance on Monitoring the Biological Stability of Drinking Water in Distribution Systems
- Proposed guideline for Canadian drinking water quality for metribuzin
- Withdrawal of Select Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality
- Consultation – Cadmium in Drinking Water
- Consultation – Guidance on Natural Organic Matter in Drinking Water
- Consultation – Guidance on the use of Enterococci bacteria as indicators in Canadian drinking water supplies
- Consultation on 1,4-dioxane in drinking water
- Consultation on aluminum in drinking water
- Consultation on Barium in drinking water
- Consultation on Chloramines in drinking water
- Consultation on copper in drinking water
- Consultation on enteric viruses in drinking water
- Consultation on Escherichia coli (E. coli) in Drinking Water
- Consultation on guidance on the use of quantitative microbial risk assessment in drinking water
- Consultation on strontium in drinking water
- Consultation on the review of guideline technical document – Total coliforms in drinking water
- Consultation on uranium in drinking water
- Consultation on uranium in drinking water
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Proposed Amendments to the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations
Health Canada Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality
Federal Drinking Water Systems
Regulatory Resources for Ontario Systems
Disponible en français.
Read MoreWater Talk Fact Sheet Series
The Water Talk fact sheet series provides several levels of information on various water quality issues. While some of the information is technical in nature, each sheet provides a general overview of the issue that may go beyond drinking water, and is written in straightforward language that is easy to understand (Health Canada, 2022).
If you have concerns about your drinking water or health, contact your public drinking water authority or public health authority for more information.
Water Talk Series
- Aluminum in drinking water
- Chloramines in drinking water
- Barium in drinking water
- Copper in drinking water
- Manganese in drinking water
- Be well aware – Information for private well owners
- Drinking water quality in Canada
- Perfluoroalkylated substances in drinking water
- Enteric protozoa (Giardia and Cryptosporidium) in drinking water
- Enteric viruses in drinking water
- Lead in drinking water
- Strontium in drinking water
- Uranium in drinking water
- 1,4-Dioxane in drinking water
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Health Canada Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality
Health Canada Guidance Documents
Health Canada Documents for Public Review & Comment
Federal Drinking Water Systems
Disponible en français.
Read MoreHealth Canada Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality
Guidelines are established based on current, published scientific research related to health effects, aesthetic effects, and operational considerations. Guidelines (maximum acceptable concentrations or treatment goals) are based on a comprehensive review of the known health effects associated with each contaminant, on exposure levels and on the availability of treatment and analytical technologies. Aesthetic objectives (e.g., for taste or odour) are provided when they play a role in determining whether consumers will consider the water drinkable. Operational guidance values are provided when a substance may interfere with or impair a treatment process or technology (e.g., turbidity interfering with chlorination or UV disinfection) or adversely affect drinking water infrastructure (e.g., corrosion of pipes) (Health Canada, 2022).
Health Canada publishes guidelines and other information on the website Drinking water quality in Canada.
Guidelines
Technical Documents
Microbiological Parameters
Bacteriological Quality
- Enterococci
- Escherichia coli
- Guidance on the Use of Heterotrophic Plate Counts in Canadian Drinking Water Supplies
- Total Coliforms
Chemical/Physical Parameters
- Aluminum
- Ammonia
- Antimony
- Arsenic
- Asbestos
- Atrazine
- Barium
- Benzene
- Benzo[a]pyrene
- Boron
- Bromate
- Bromoxynil
- Cadmium
- Calcium
- Carbon tetrachloride
- Chloramines
- Chloride
- Chlorine
- Chlorite and chlorate
- Chlorophenols
- Chlorpyrifos
- Chromium
- Colour
- Copper
- Cyanide
- Cyanobacterial toxins
- Dicamba
- Dichlorobenzenes
- Dichloroethane, 1,2
- Dichloroethylene,1,1
- Dichloromethane
- Dichlorophenol,2,4- (see Chlorophenols)
- Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4
- Dimethoate and Omethoate
- Dioxane-1,4
- Diquat
- Ethylbenzene (see Toluene, ethylbenzene and the xylenes)
- Fluoride
- Formaldehyde
- Glyphosate
- Haloacetic acids
- Hardness
- Iron
- Lead
- Magnesium
- Malathion
- Manganese
- MCPA – (2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic Acid)
- Mercury
- Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE)
- Metribuzine
- Microcystin-LR (see Cyanobacterial toxins)
- N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)
- Nitrate/nitrite
- Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)
- Odour
- Pentachlorophenol (see Chlorophenols)
- Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
- Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)
- pH
- Selenium
- Silver
- Sodium
- Strontium
- Sulphate
- Sulphide
- Taste
- Tetrachloroethylene
- Tetrachlorophenol,2,3,4,6- (see Chlorophenols)
- Toluene (see Toluene, ethylbenzene and the xylenes)
- Toluene, ethylbenzene and the xylenes
- Total dissolved solids
- Trichloroethylene
- Trichlorophenol,2,4,6- (see Chlorophenols)
- Trihalomethanes
- Turbidity
- Uranium
- Vinyl chloride
- Xylenes (see Toluene, ethylbenzene and the xylenes)
- Zinc
Screening Values
- diazinon
- diuron
- Drinking water screening value for Iodide – Technical Summary
- Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)
- Perchlorate
- Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
- Sulfolane
Radiological Parameters
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Health Canada Documents for Public Review & Comment
Health Canada Guidance Documents
Federal Drinking Water Systems
Disponible en français.
Read More
Wednesdays with Warren: Water Movement Operator Training Videos
Wednesdays with Warren is an initiative by Water Movement to bridge the connection between Indigenous water operators by providing a collaborative online space where they can connect, share lessons learned and access a video library.
Water Movement is a registered Canadian non-for-profit. Their team of volunteers includes a unique mix of industry professionals and university students. For more information, visit their website.
Video Library
Meet Water Operator Warren Brown!
How to do a Chlorine Residual Test
Slow Sand Filtration and Filter Scrape
Meet Water Treatment Professor Stephen Romaniuk: Things I Wish I Knew as a Young Professional
Solids Retention Time: Wastewater Treatment Practice Problems
Meet Circuit Rider Trainer Rod: Working in the Water Sector
Why are Fire Hydrants Different Colours?
Could You Pass the Water Operator-in-Training Exam?
How a Water Treatment Plant Cleans Your Water
Meet Circuit Rider Trainer Blair: What Does a Circuit Rider Trainer Do?
Reasons Why You Should Go to School for Water Treatment
How do Chemical Dosing Pumps Work?
How to Service and Maintain a Century Fire Hydrant
The True, Unseen Heroes Bringing You Clean Water
Log Removal: Water Treatment Practice Problems
How to Repair a Fire Hydrant Break-Away
Can you solve this chemical dosing problem?
Water Operator Essentials: How to Service and Maintain a Pump
What Does it Take to Work in the Water Sector?
How to Calculate Chemical Feed Rate
Water Operator Essentials: How to Replace Pump Packing
The Shocking Truth About Clean Water in Canada
How To Calculate Chlorine Dosage at a Water Treatment Plant
Can Traditional Indigenous Knowledge Coexist with Western Knowledge?
Happy National Indigenous Water Operator Day
Best Way to Disinfect Water (Using CT Values)
How To Become A Water Treatment Operator
Water Operator Essentials: How to Fix a Leaking Valve
What is it Really Like for Women in the Water Industry?
Water Operator Essentials: How does a submersible pump work? How do you replace one?
Who are the Forgotten Essential Workers?
Why We Need to Protect Our Water
Water Operator Essentials: How does a Diaphragm Valve Work and How does it Fail?
Water Operator Essentials: How to Troubleshoot a Leaking Valve
Week in the Life of a Circuit Rider Trainer
Why Don’t Fire Hydrants Freeze in Winter?
Why Is Diversity Important in the Water Sector?
How Does A Wastewater Lagoon Work?
How to Pressure Test a Fire Hydrant
How Can Canada Get Rid of its Boil Water Advisories?
How to do a Fire Hydrant Inspection (with Checklist!)
How to Inspect a Wastewater Lagoon
Meet Shannon – Water Treatment Operator!
Important Daily Checks – Water Treatment Facility
Ultra vs Nano vs Micro-Filtration Explained!
Measuring pH, Conductivity and UV transmittance
Ultrafiltration and Reverse Osmosis – Maintenance Activities
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water or view these similar posts.
First Nations Water System Resources
Free Small Systems Training from the Government of Canada
Study Guides for Examinations, Math Problems and Practice Quizzes
Image from https://www.watermovement.ca/
Disponible en français.
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First Nations Water System Resources
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre is committed to supporting First Nations drinking water systems in Ontario.
Join our Facebook Community or visit our website to stay up to date on training events being held for First Nations Communities.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Drinking Water System Resources
About Drinking Water Advisories
AWWAO: Helping Train and Certify Ontario First Nations Operators
Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program
Chlorine in Drinking Water in First Nation Communities
Controlling Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
Design Guidelines for First Nations Water Works
Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water
Drinking Groundwater and Well Water Safety
Eco Report Details First Nations Water Issues and Offers Hope
Emergency Response Plan for Drinking Water Systems in First Nations Communities
Ending Long-Term Drinking Water Advisories
Environment Canada: Water and the Environment
First Nation Community Infrastructure
First Nation Infrastructure Fund
First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plans and Reports
First Nations On-Reserve Source Water Protection Plan
Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality – Third Edition
Inspecting Your Well: A Step-By-Step Checklist
Issuing and Rescinding Boil Water Advisories in Canadian Drinking Water Supplies
Issuing and Rescinding Drinking Water Avoidance Advisories in Emergency Situations
Lifecycle of a First Nation Community Infrastructure Project
Maintenance Management Plan for Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems in First Nations Communities
National First Nations Water Leadership Award
Preventive Maintenance Tasks for Tribal Drinking Water Systems Guide Booklet (US EPA)
Protocol for Centralised Drinking Water Systems in First Nations Communities
Protocol for Decentralised Water and Wastewater Systems in First Nations Communities
Providing Safe Drinking Water in Areas of Federal Jurisdiction
Protocols and Guidelines for Water Systems
Questions and Answers on Drinking Water Treatment Devices
Report Pollution and Spills – Spills Action Centre
Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act
Short-Term Drinking Water Advisories by Region
Sustaining Healthy Communities Through a New Clean Water and Wastewater Fund
The OFNTSC: Delivering the Know-How to Achieve Clean Water in First Nations Communities
Training and Support for Managing Drinking Water Systems in First Nations Communities in Ontario
Water and Wastewater Policy and Level of Services Standards (Corporate Manual System)
Water Treatment Plant at Six Nations of the Grand River
Working With First Nations to Improve Drinking Water
Wastewater System Resources
Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program
Circuit Rider Training Program
Emergency Response Plan for Wastewater Systems in First Nations Communities
Environment Canada: Wastewater
First Nation Community Infrastructure
First Nation Infrastructure Fund
First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plans and Reports
Lifecycle of a First Nation Community Infrastructure Project
Maintenance Management Plan for Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems in First Nations Communities
Protocol for Centralised Wastewater Systems in First Nations Communities
Protocol for Decentralised Water and Wastewater Systems in First Nations Communities
Septic Tank and Leaching Bed Safety
Sustaining Healthy Communities Through a New Clean Water and Wastewater Fund
Wastewater in First Nations Communities
Water and Wastewater Policy and Level of Services Standards (Corporate Manual System)
WCWC Pilot Testing Projects Completed for First Nation Communities
A Study to Reduce Disinfection By-Products in a First Nation Community’s Drinking Water Supply *NEW*
Conventional and Dissolved Air Flotation Jar Testing
Conventional Treatment Optimization for Big Grassy First Nation
Decentralized Pilot Testing for Wauzhushk Onigum Nation
Optimizing Coagulant Doses by Jar Tests
Optimizing Regeneration Process of Greensand Filtration to Reduce Disinfection By-Products *NEW*
Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
The following organizations can also provide more information or assistance.
- Indigenous Services Canada
- Chiefs of Ontario
- Health Canada – Environmental and Workplace Health department
- Keewaytinook Centre of Excellence
- Circuit Rider Training Program
- Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation
- Aboriginal Water and Wastewater Association of Ontario
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Wednesday’s With Warren: Water Operator Training Videos
Study Guides for Examinations, Math Problems and Practice Quizzes
Free Small Systems Training from the Government of Canada
Regulatory Resources for Ontario Systems
Read MoreTraining Opportunities At The Assembly Of First Nations 4th Annual Water Symposium
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) is pleased to announce that it will be delivering two virtual courses at the upcoming Assembly of First Nations 4th Annual Water Symposium.
On behalf of the Aboriginal Water and Wastewater Association of Ontario (AWWAO), WCWC will be delivering Managing Drinking Water Systems in First Nations Communities and New Watermain Commissioning. WCWC is proud to work with AWWAO to make this training available to First Nations Chiefs, Councillors, managers and supervisors who have operational responsibility for water systems, and drinking water operators.
The 4th Annual Water Symposium will be held virtually on February 17 and 18, 2021. The theme of the event is “Protecting Water During Uncertain Times”. Access to safe, clean water is more important than ever as the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the uncertainty facing First Nations with respect to water. For more information about the 4th Annual Water Symposium, please visit afn.ca/2021-water-symposium/ or learn more from AWWAO at awwao.org.
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Free Small Systems Training from the Government of Canada
‘This site contains water quality training materials that provides basic information that can help a person learn how to operate and maintain a micro-system (water systems serving up to and including 25 people). The training has been developed by Canadian federal departments as part of a multi-barrier approach to providing safe drinking water in areas of federal jurisdiction, including on federal lands, in federal facilities and/or in First Nations communities. This includes Federal government employees working in Canada, as well as Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Forces personnel, and Canadian diplomatic mission staff working abroad.
The training is provided in two parts: the main training is in a video or e-Learning format with the second part being an accompanying document that can be printed for more in-depth training.’
Water Quality Training Modules
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
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Pilot Testing Project Helps Address Long-Term Boil Water Advisory
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) recently completed a pilot testing project with Wauzhushk Onigum Nation, helping the community address a long-term boil water advisory that has been in place since 2012.
Wauzhushk Onigum Nation is located on Lake of the Woods in Northwestern Ontario. The lake water has high organics and colour making it a challenging water source for satisfying the requirements of UV disinfection. Before implementing decentralized point-of-entry (POE) systems for a portion of the community, Wauzhushk Onigum Nation worked with WCWC on a pilot testing project. WCWC tested POE technologies for effectiveness in removing turbidity and organics in order to improve UV disinfection. The test results were shared with consultants in the design of the decentralized water systems.
WCWC conducts pilot tests for clients to enhance their understanding of source water characteristics and the performance of treatment processes and alternative treatment options. Bench or pilot scale projects can be undertaken at a client’s location or at the Technology Demonstration Facility in Walkerton.
WCWC has years of pilot testing experience in areas such as natural organic matter, disinfection by-products, iron and manganese treatment, arsenic, and coagulation. Completed pilot testing reports are available on WCWC’s Drinking Water Resource Library, which is a free online portal that assists drinking water professionals in finding information on various topics.
To learn more about WCWC’s pilot testing services, please visit https://wcwc.ca/services/pilot-testing/ or contact us at 866-515-0550.
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