Drinking Water

The County of Brant is committed to providing safe drinking water that meets the requirements of legislation and regulations. The County takes many measures to ensure water is tested regularly and homeowners have the information they need about their drinking water.

In the County of Brant there are five (5) municipal residential drinking water systems. The Airport, Mt. Pleasant, Paris and St. George Drinking Water Systems rely on groundwater for their drinking water supply. The Cainsville Drinking Water System is provided water from the City of Brantford Water Treatment Plant which takes its water from the Grand River.

If you have concerns about unusual taste, odour or colour in your municipal drinking water, please contact the County of Brant Environmental Services Division - Water Operations.

Did you know that if you have a well on your property, you are responsible for ensuring that your water is safe?

Most rural Ontarians rely on groundwater from dug or drilled wells for their private water supply. If you own a well, you are responsible to ensure it is maintained and operating safely.

All private well owners are encouraged to inspect their wells and get their water tested regularly. To learn about water testing services available, or if you have concerns about your drinking water from a private well, please visit the Grand Erie Public Health Safe Water webpage for important resources.

Water Testing

Sampling of drinking water is conducted in all municipal wells and distribution systems. Our sampling program has been developed to meet and exceed the requirements of our regulatory approvals, including all parameters required by the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards (ODWQS).

The water distribution systems are continually tested to ensure that chlorine levels are maintained and drinking water quality is safe.

Chlorine

To ensure your water is protected from harmful bacteria and microorganisms, safe levels of disinfectant (chlorine) are used to treat the drinking water.

Chlorine levels decrease in your water within a few hours, after it runs from the tap. If you prefer to not drink water with chlorine in it, you can put an open container of tap water in your refrigerator overnight.

Flouride

Fluoride is added to the Paris Drinking Water System to help prevent tooth decay.

Nitrates

Nitrates are naturally occurring, odorless, and colorless compounds composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrates are commonly found in the diet through vegetables, fruits, cured and processed meats, fish, dairy products, and cereals. Manure, fertilizers and discharges from septic bed are also high in nitrates and can contribute to elevated nitrate levels in groundwater and surface water.

In Ontario the maximum acceptable concentration of nitrates in drinking water is set at 10 mg/L (as Nitrogen). Health Canada warns that the main health threat to the public when nitrate is over 10mg/L is methemoglobinemia, also known as blue baby syndrome. Therefore, the vulnerable populations at risk from ingesting high nitrate in drinking water are expecting mothers, bottle-fed infants less than six months old and babies one year old and under.

Sodium

In drinking water sodium can occur naturally or be the result of nearby road salt application or water softener units. Sodium is needed in the human body to regulate blood pressure, manage how much water you retain, and make sure your nerves and muscles work properly.

Sodium in drinking water is not a health concern for most people, but may be an issue for someone with hypertension, congestive heart failure or on a sodium-restricted diet. Those on sodium restricted diets should consult their physician if the sodium in their drinking water exceeds 20 mg/L. For drinking water systems in the County where sodium levels are found to exceed 20 mg/L notifications are sent to effected residents.

Microbiological

In Ontario microbiological standards are regulated under O.Reg 169/03: Ontario Drinking-Water Quality Standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The key microbiological parameters include:

Total Coliforms – drinking water should have no detectable total coliform bacteria in 100 mL of water
Escherichia coli (E. Coli) – drinking water should have no detectable E. Coli in 100 mL of water. Presence of E. Coli is considered as a serious indicator of fecal contamination and poses and immediate health risk.
Background - Background tests are an indicator of the general bacteria population in a water sample. Background bacteria should be less than 200 colonies per 1 mL. Results over 200 colonies per 1 mL may indicate a change in water quality but is not considered an indicator of unsafe water.
Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) – PC is used as an indicator of water quality but is not directly related to health risks. It generally should not exceed 500 colony forming units per ml (CFU/mL) for drinking water.

These standards are in place to ensure water safety and reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses. Regular testing is done to ensure water supplies remain free of harmful pathogens. If any of these indicators exceed the allowable limits, the water may be subject to treatment or advisories to protect public health.

For additional, system specific, details on water quality please refer to the Annual Drinking Water Reports.

Hardwater

Drinking water in the County’s five (5) systems is considered to be very hard water.

Water is considered hard when it contains large amounts of dissolved calcium, magnesium and other minerals. The minerals contributing to hardness (mainly calcium and magnesium) are safe to drink but create scale build-up in pipes, appliances, water heaters and on dishes. As a result, residents in areas with hard water often use water softeners to remove the hardness of water.

Water hardness is reported as the amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) in the water and is measured in milligrams per litre (also referred to as parts per million or ppm) or grains per US gallon (gpUSg) in a range of five classifications:

Classification	Hardness Range: Hardness (mg/litre measured as CaCO₃)	Hardness Range: Grains (gpUSg)
Soft	below 17	0 -1
Slightly Hard	17.1 - 60	1 - 3.5
Moderately Hard	61 - 120	3.5 - 7
Hard	121 - 180	7.0 - 10.5
Very Hard	over 180 mg/litre	over 10.5

Municipal Drinking Water System	Hardness (mg/litre measured as CaCO₃)	Grains
Airport	310	18.1
Cainsville	310	18.1
Mt. Pleasant	320	18.7
Paris**	625	36.5
St. George	410	24.0

**Municipal water in Paris is supplied from three different wellfields, each having different water hardness. The hardness of water experienced by consumers will vary depending on location within the Paris Drinking Water System.

How does a softener work?

Traditional water softeners work by ion exchange – they exchange hardness ions (calcium and magnesium) with sodium (salt) ions. When hard water flows through the softener tank it comes in contact with small resin beads that are covered with sodium ions. As the water flows by the sodium ions they are exchanged with hardness ions. Eventually the beads contain nothing but calcium and magnesium and no sodium. The softener then requires regeneration. Knowing the hardness of the water and following manufacturer’s instructions to set the regeneration cycle helps to ensure efficient softener operation.

What about drinking water?

Most people prefer softened water for showers and laundry as it helps create soap lathering. Due to the added sodium soft water is not recommended for drinking, cooking or watering plants. You can have a separate line or bypass valve installed in your home to supply unsoftened water for drinking, cooking and outdoor use.

Should I use a water softener?

This is a matter of personal choice. By reducing scale build-up, softeners will extend the life of appliances and improve their efficiency. Soft water also makes lathering easier and reduces spotting and films on bathroom fixtures and dishes. Soft water can also be better for people with skin conditions.