Homeowner Information & Resources
This collection of resources provides information related to questions commonly received from private homeowners and members of the public. Information related to water testing, home treatment systems, wells, source water protection and water related emergencies can be found here.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Water Testing
Well Water Testing (Private Drinking Water) – Public Health Units provide testing for the presence of the bacterial indicators of contamination, E. coli and total coliforms in private drinking water systems.
Public Health Units – Find your local Public Health Unit in this directory for information on local water testing programs.
Testing Your Water – A video demonstrating how to collect a water sample for the Public Health Unit’s bacterial indicator testing program.
Well Water Testing – Well Wise Program– Well Wise is a program administered by the Ontario Ground Water Association to provide water testing for consumers and well contractors.
List of Licensed Labs – A directory of labs licensed to test drinking water in the province of Ontario if you would like to pay for private testing.
Drinking Water Quality – Indicator Bacteria (Total Coliforms and E. Coli) – A fact sheet describing the Public Health Unit’s test for bacterial indicators of contamination.
How Do I Get My Drinking Water Tested? – A fact sheet made by the Walkerton Clean Water Centre summarizing how a homeowner can go about testing their water.
Home Water Treatment
A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment Technologies for Household Use – A fact sheet produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the effectiveness of point-of-use or point-of-entry drinking water treatment technologies for household use against different contaminants.
A Guide to Water Filters – This guide was produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for filtering tap water (previously treated water).
Choosing Home Water Filters & Other Water Treatment Systems – This guide was produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Contaminant Reduction Claims Guide – This guide was produced by NSF International who certifies purification systems designed to reduce contaminants. This directory shows which systems they have certified to reduce lead, arsenic, bacteria, cysts, viruses, chlorine, chloramine, chromium, fluoride, nitrate/nitrite, PFOA/PFOS, trihalomethanes and volatile organic compounds.
Do I Need to Use Certified Products or Materials for my Drinking Water? – A Walkerton Clean Water Centre fact sheet providing information on how to select plumbing products and treatment systems for your drinking water at home.
Drinking Water Safety – Cisterns – A fact sheet produced by Haldimand and Norfolk Health and Social Services about maintaining, cleaning and disinfecting a cistern.
Drinking Water Treatability Database – Presents referenced information on the control of contaminants in drinking water. After selecting ‘Find a Contaminant’ you will find a ‘Treatment Processes’ tab that lists the treatment processes with literature on the log or percent removal, water quality conditions and operational parameters references in the ‘Data’ tab.
Hard Water at Home – A homeowner’s guide to hard water and similar issues produced by a real estate company.
Home Water Treatment System Selection – A guide for selecting a home water treatment system produced by NSF International.
Rainwater Collection – Tips and information for homeowners interested in collecting rainwater to conserve resources by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Ultimate Guide to Well Water Treatment – A guide to understanding well water and possible methods of treatment written by a plumber.
Plumbing
Flushing Your Home: How to Flush an Entire House Plumbing System– A step-by-step guide produced by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to flush the plumbing in your home.
How Much Water Does a Leaky Toilet Waste? – A video experiment showing you how much water is wasted by a leaky toilet in your home.
How to Drain Your Water Heater – Step-by-step instructions produced by the District of Columbia for draining your water heater.
How to Find Your Water Shut Off Valve – This video demonstrates how to locate and operate your water shut off valve to prevent further water damage during an emergency.
How to Fix a Bathtub Faucet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to replace a leaky cartridge in a bathtub faucet.
How to Fix a Double-Stem Faucet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to fix a leaky double-stem faucet.
How to Fix a Leaky Toilet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to fix a leaky toilet.
How to Fix a Single-Stem Faucet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to fix a leaky single-stem faucet.
How to flush your own (drinking water) pipes at home – A video made by the Green Bay Utility demonstrating how to flush all the plumbing in a typical home.
How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System and Plumbing Products – A fact sheet produced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for sourcing lead free certified products to be used for drinking water systems.
How to Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing – A video demonstrating how to prevent frozen water lines to keep the water flowing in your home.
Do I Need to Use Certified Products or Materials for my Drinking Water? – A Walkerton Clean Water Centre fact sheet providing information on how to select plumbing products and treatment systems for your drinking water at home.
How to Install a Water Softener– A video produced by US Water Systems providing general directions for installing a water softener.
Water Meters
How to Read Your Water Meter: Automated Model – A video demonstrating how to read your automated water meter.
How to Read Your Water Meter: Dial Model (Manual)– A video demonstrating how to read your manual dial-type water meter.
Wells
View these other posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Well Aware and Well Wise Program Resources for Homeowners
Wells Help Desk and Well Records in Ontario
Well Construction and Licensing
Source Water Protection
View this post on the WCWC online library for more information.
Emergency Disinfection
Disinfecting Wells After a Disaster
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Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario
Disinfection of Drinking Water; A clear distinction is made between primary disinfection and secondary disinfection, which are often completely separate treatment processes and provide different outcomes. The former is intended to provide disinfection before the water is delivered to the first consumer and the latter ensures maintenance of a disinfectant residual throughout the distribution system.
This procedure is a supporting document for Ontario legislation and regulations related to drinking water and specific to water disinfection and any pre-disinfection processes that may be necessary to ensure effectiveness of disinfection. The Procedure is adopted by reference in the provisions in Schedules 1 and 2 in O. Reg. 170/03 that deal with requirements for primary and secondary disinfection.
Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
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Wednesdays with Warren: Water 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.
Wednesdays with Warren Video Library
Meet Water Operator Warren Brown!
How to do a Chlorine Residual Test
Knowledge is Power! PLCs and Water Treatment
Slow Sand Filtration and Filter Scrape
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Image from https://www.watermovement.ca/
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Public Health Inspector Resources
Guides
Drinking Water Quality in Canada
Ontario Public Health Standards: Protocols and Guidelines
Drinking Water Haulage Guidance Document
Practices for the Collection and Handling of Drinking Water Samples
Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario
Public Health Inspectors Guide
Response to Adverse Drinking Water Quality Incidents
Technical Support Document for Ontario Drinking Water Standards, Objectives and Guidelines
Protocols & Guidelines
Operational Approaches for Recreational Water Guideline, 2018
Recreational Water Protocol, 2019
Recreational Water Reference Document, 2019
Safe Drinking Water and Fluoride Monitoring Protocol, 2019
Small Drinking Water Systems Risk Assessment Guideline, 2018
Regulations
Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7
Ontario Water Resources Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.40
O. Reg. 170/03: DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
O. Reg. 319/08: SMALL DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 32
Sampling & Analysis
Bacteriological Analysis of Water: Multiple Sample Requisition for Official Agencies
Drinking Water Testing – Official Agencies | Public Health Ontario
Drinking Water Testing – Private Citizen
Potability of Water Release Form
Practices for the Collection and Handling of Drinking Water Samples
Recreational Water Facilities and Public Pools Spas
Requisition for Specimen Containers and Supplies
Sewage, Suspected Sewage Contamination – Water
Water Testing – Who to Contact
Water Sample Analysis – Public Health Inspectors Guide
Well Water Testing (Private Drinking Water)
Arsenic from community water fluoridation: quantifying the effect
Emergency Management : Keeping Food and Water Safe after a Flood
Zika Virus Infection and the Flint, Michigan, Water Crisis: A Study in Surprising Commonalities
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Find Licensed Well Contractors
Laboratory Accreditation and Licensing
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Ministry of the Environment – District Locator
Ministry of the Environment – Drinking Water
Legionella
Environmental Microbiology Investigation Requisition Form
Infectious Diseases Protocol – Appendix A: Disease – Specific Chapters – Legionellosis
Legionella and the prevention of legionellosis
Legionella: Introduction of molecular screening of environmental water samples
Legionella (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever)
Legionella: questions and answers, 2nd edition
Legionella – Respiratory PCR and Culture
Legionellosis in Ontario, January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018
Legionellosis (Legionella, Legionnaires Disease)
Presentations
Legionellosis: Key Considerations for Case and Environmental Exposure Investigation
Photo from www.regionofwaterloo.ca
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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 Devendra Borikar or Souleymane Ndiongue.
Resources produced from past pilot testing projects can be found below.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Project Summaries
Conventional and Dissolved Air Flotation Jar Testing
Conventional Treatment Optimization for Big Grassy First Nation
Decentralized Pilot Testing for Wauzhushk Onigum Nation
On-Site Testing for Arsenic Reduction
Pilot Testing to Reduce Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
Pilot Testing with Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation
Pilot Testing with Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation
Pilot Testing with the Township of Tay to Reduce Taste and Odour
Reducing Iron in a Groundwater Well
Project Reports
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
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 *NEW*
Options for the Reduction of Arsenic from a Groundwater Source
Reduction of Arsenic in a Small Drinking Water System
Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
Small Systems Technology Assessment for Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxin Removal
Taste and Odour Control Strategies with Advanced Oxidation Processes and Granular Activated Carbon
Project Presentations
A Case Study to Reduce Arsenic
A Pilot Plant Study to Reduce Iron and Manganese
Challenges and a Pilot Study on Cyanobacteria and Small Drinking Water Systems
Challenges to Treat Cyanotoxins from Drinking Water on a Large, Small and Household Scale
Pilot Testing of Selected Technologies for the Removal of Natural Organic Matter for A First Nation Water Treatment Plant
Pilot Testing Services and a Case Study to Reduce Organics
Practical Reduction of Arsenic From Groundwater: Two Towns With Two Different Solutions *NEW*
Reduction of Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide from a Well System
Using Fixed Bed Ion Exchange Process to Enhance the Reduction of Organics
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Arsenic
This post provides information on arsenic in drinking water and reducing arsenic through treatment options and optimization.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Case Studies
Arsenic in Drinking Water: Compliance Success Stories, Arsenic in Public Schools
Arsenic in Drinking Water: Compliance Success Stories, Arsenic in Schools
Arsenic in Drinking Water: Compliance Success Stories, Water Quality Based Well Design
Case Study – Arsenic Treatment Technologies Scottsdale, AZ
Case Study – Arsenic Treatment Technologies Fairbanks, AK
Case Study – Arsenic Treatment Technologies Tucson, AZ
Case Study – Gardiner, Montana: Arsenic Treatment by Blending & Adsorption
Case Study – Three Forks, Montana: Arsenic Treatment by Blending & Adsorption
Fact Sheets
Arsenic and Drinking Water from Private Wells
Arsenic and Your Distribution System
Arsenic in your Drinking Water: Just the Facts for Consumers
Arsenic limits in Drinking Well Water
Contaminants in the Water Supply: Arsenic
Development of Low-Cost Treatment Options for Arsenic Removal in Water Treatment
Guides
Arsenic in Drinking Water – It’s Your Health
Arsenic in Drinking Water Rule: Economic Analysis
Arsenic Treatment Technology Evaluation Handbook for Small Systems
Best Practice Guide on the Control of Arsenic in Drinking Water (open access chapters only)
Evaluation and Assessment of Arsenic Removal Technologies for New Jersey Drinking Water
Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – Arsenic
How to Remove Arsenic in Well Water: 2021 Ultimate Guide
Small Public Water System Technology Guide, Volume I – Arsenic Removal
Pilot Testing Reports & Summaries
On-Site Testing for Arsenic Summary
Options for the Reduction of Arsenic from a Groundwater Source
Reduction of Arsenic in a Small Drinking Water System
Presentations
A Case Study to Reduce Arsenic
Arsenic in the Environment: Health Effects and Risk Assessment
Arsenic: Municipal Industrial Sources and Biosolids Sinks
Arsenic Removal by Zero Valent Iron: Influence of pH and Redox Potential
Arsenic Removal Using Aged Rapid Sand Filter Media
Arsenic Rule: Small Systems Implementation Strategy & Exemptions
Assessing Arsenic Removal By Zero-Valent Iron Under Various Water Quality Conditions
Complying With the Revised Drinking Water Standard for Arsenic: Small Entity Compliance Guide
Evaluating Arsenic Treatment Providers: A Guide for Public Water Systems
Reports
Arsenic in Canadian Drinking Water
Arsenic in Illinois Groundwater: Implications for Non-Community Public Water Supplies
Assessing Innovative Arsenic Adsorbents
Chemical Oxidation for Arsenic Removal
Demonstration of Low-Cost Arsenic Removal from a Variety of Illinois Drinking Waters
Development of an Anionic Exchange Glass Fiber Substrate POU Device to Remove Arsenic
Development of Low Cost Treatment Options for Arsenic Removal in Water Treatment Facilities
Evaluating Arsenic Removal Adsorbents
Fate of Arsenic in the Mahomet Aquifer; The Influence of Added Sulfate and Nitrate
Field Testing and Modeling of the Fenton-Filtration Process for Arsenic Removal
Spatial Variability of Arsenic in Groundwater
Technical Discussion Paper on Proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards
Temporal Variability of Arsenic in Municipal Well Water
Treatment of Arsenic Contaminated Groundwater using Oxidation and Membrane Filtration
Tools
Arsenic Treatment Decision Trees
Arsenic Virtual Trade Show Learning Portal
Raw Water Chemicals Map – Public Health Ontario
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Natural Organic Matter and Disinfection By-Products
The following links provide information on natural organic matter (NOM) and the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) when a chlorine-based disinfectant is introduced in drinking water. Information on treatment strategies to reduce both NOM and DBPs are included in this post.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Abstracts & Articles
Advanced Water Treatment Strategies for the Removal of Natural and Synthetic Organic Contaminants
Chlorination Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water
Effect of Biofiltration on DBP Formation at Full-Scale and Pilot-Scale
Enhanced Organic Precursor Removals by Gravel Roughing Filters
Enhanced Organic Precursor Removals Using “Aged” Filter Media
Formation and removal of ozonation by-products in drinking water biofilters
Organic Compounds and Genotoxicity in Drinking Water
Removal of organic compounds from aqueous solutions by electron radiation technique
Trihalomethanes: Concentrations, Cancer Risks, and Regulations
Fact Sheets
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) & Groundwater
Water Treatment and Disinfection By-Product Formation
Guides
Guidance on natural organic matter in drinking water
Pilot Testing Project Reports
Conventional and Dissolved Air Flotation Jar Testing
Conventional Treatment Optimization for Big Grassy First Nation
Decentralized Pilot Testing for Wauzhushk Onigum Nation
Optimization of Conventional Treatment Processes for Residual Aluminum Control
Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
Pilot Testing Project Summaries
Conventional and Dissolved Air Flotation Jar Testing
Conventional Treatment Optimization for Big Grassy First Nation
Decentralized Pilot Testing for Wauzhushk Onigum Nation
Pilot Testing with Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation
Pilot Testing with Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation
Pilot Testing with the Township of Tay to Reduce Taste and Odour
Presentations
Minimizing DBPs With Multiple Disinfectant Barriers to Achieve Multiple Objectives
Pilot Testing of Selected Technologies for the Removal of Natural Organic Matter for A First Nation Water Treatment Plant
Pilot Testing Services and a Case Study to Reduce Organics
Reducing Disinfection By-Products in Small Drinking Water Systems
Using Fixed Bed Ion Exchange Process to Enhance the Reduction of Organics
Webinars
Advances in PAC Adsorption for DBP Precursor and Micropollutant Removal
Localized Treatment for Disinfection By-Products
Reducing Volatile DBPs in Treated Drinking Water Using Aeration Technologies
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Iron
This post provides information on iron in drinking water and reducing iron through treatment options and optimization.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Articles
Keeping Iron Bacteria Out of Your Well
Fact Sheets
Home Drinking Water Treatment Devices
How to Operate and Maintain Manganese Greensand Treatment Units
Shock chlorination and control of iron bacteria
Water-related Diseases: Anaemia
Guides
Guidance on Controlling Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – Iron
Small Public Water System Technology Guide, Volume I – Iron and Manganese Control
Pilot Testing Reports & Summaries
Evaluation of Greensand Filtration Operation for the Reduction of Manganese
Exploring Iron Reduction Options for a Groundwater Source
Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
Reducing Iron in a Groundwater Well
Pilot Testing to Reduce Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
Presentations
A Pilot Plant Study to Reduce Iron and Manganese
Pilot Testing to Reduce Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
Reducing Iron in a Groundwater Well
Reduction of Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide from a Well System
Videos
EPA Small Systems Webinar: Treatment and Control for Manganese and Iron
How to analyze iron in a drinking water sample
Remove Iron , Sulfur, Manganese by Oxidation System
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Manganese
This post provides information on manganese in drinking water and reducing manganese through treatment options and optimization.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Articles & Abstracts
Adsorptive Contactors for Removal of Soluble Manganese During Drinking Water Treatment
Canada’s New Manganese Guideline Value Among the Lowest in the World
Health Canada Develops New Guidelines for Manganese in Drinking Water
Manganese Removal from Drinking Water Sources
Manganese Removal Processes at 10 Groundwater Fed Full-Scale Drinking Water Treatment Plants
Occurrence of Manganese in Drinking Water and Manganese Control
Removal of Iron and Manganese from Drinking Water Supply
The effects of manganese exposure from drinking water on school-age children: A systematic review
Time to Re-evaluate the Guideline Value for Manganese in Drinking Water?
Fact Sheets
About Iron and Manganese in Drinking Water
How to Operate and Maintain Manganese Greensand Treatment Units
Removal of Manganese from Drinking Water
Guides
Contaminant Candidate List Regulatory Determination Support Document for Manganese
Drinking Water Health Advisory for Manganese
Health Effects Support Document for Manganese
Iron and Manganese in Private Water Systems
Iron and Manganese Removal Handbook
Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality – Manganese
Manganese in Drinking Water – Document for Public Consultation
Water Talk – Manganese in Drinking Water
Pilot Testing Reports & Summaries
Evaluation of Greensand Filtration Operation for the Reduction of Manganese
Pilot Testing with Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation
Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
Presentations
A Pilot Plant Study to Reduce Iron and Manganese
Videos
Guidance for the Treatment of Manganese
How to analyze manganese in a drinking water sample
Legacy of Manganese (Mn) Accumulation in Water Systems Webcast
Treatment and Control for Manganese and Iron Small Systems
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National Environmental Services Centre (NESC) Fact Sheets
The National Environmental Services Centre (NESC) provides fact sheets in conjunction with the National Drinking Water Clearinghouse and the University of Virginia. These fact sheets can be accessed in this post.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Fact Sheets
Basic water and wastewater formulas
Biofilm control in distribution systems
Cross connection and backflow prevention
Development of low-cost treatment options for arsenic removal in water treatment facilities
Diatomaceous earth filtration for drinking water
Fundamentals of Hydraulics – Flow
Fundamentals of Hydraulics – Pressure
How to begin a fire hydrant operation and maintenance program
How to operate and maintain manganese greensand treatment units
Ion Exchange and Demineralization
Leak detection and water loss control
Oil and gas extraction and source water protection
On-site generation of disinfectants
Point-of-use and point-of-entry systems
Quality control in construction projects
Reading centrifugal pump curves
Repairing distribution line breaks
Simultaneous compliance with drinking water regulations
Treatment technologies for small drinking water systems
Water efficiency and conservation
Water quality in distribution systems
Water treatment plant residuals management
Well maintenance and groundwater protection
Posters
Cross connection and backflow prevention
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