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The province of Ontario has published standards, objectives, and guidelines to assess the quality of drinking water throughout the province and to outline the responsibilities of owners/operators of drinking water systems. The water must meet acceptable levels of taste, color, odor, and turbidity so that it is clear, odorless, tasteless, and free of disease-causing organisms and unsafe concentrations of toxic chemicals. This article discusses water disinfection. In June 2003 the province of Ontario published, and in 2006 they revised a Technical Support Document for Ontario Drinking Water Standards, Objectives, and Guidelines to outline minimum requirements for public drinking water. The document helps deal with new chemicals coming into the environment and high levels of soaps that have the potential to pollute public drinking water. Parameters such as taste, alkalinity, and pH are listed alphabetically as a guide for engineers because there is an ideal range for water treatment plant operation or general aesthetic water quality. Microbes are often present in water and filters are used to screen them out, for they are associated with a number of waterborne diseases such as Typhoid fever, cholera, amoebic dysentery, and bacillary that can be transmitted by water. Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts, protozoa, and viruses must be cleared by filters and cut off from nutrients entering the system. The re-growth of algae, protozoa, and other microorganisms can clog filters cause an unpleasant taste in the water. Iron bacteria can cause discoloration, turbidity, and taste problems. The Document for Water Standards attempts to limit the effect of agricultural run-off and makes mention of the importance of keeping pesticides from entering raw water sources. Municipal water supplies all have low concentrations of synthetic organic chemicals due to the natural decomposition of biological matter however. The term pH is an acidity parameter where the objective is to produce a water that is neither corrosive nor produces incrustation. The guideline for drinking water is to maintain between 6.5 and 8.5 pH acidity. Levels below 6.5 have been associated with corrosion. The province of Ontario has published standards, objectives, and guidelines to assess the quality of drinking water throughout the province and to outline the responsibilities of owners/operators of drinking water systems. The water must meet quality of drinking water parameters such as Zinc, PCBs (in case they are present), Total Dissolved Solids, Turbidity, Temperature, Sodium, Sulphate, Organic Nitrogen, Xylenes, Toluene, Sulphide, Sulphate, Pentachlorophenol, Odor, Methane, Manganese, Iron, Hardness, Copper, Chloride, Aluminum, Dissolved Organic Carbon, Ethylbenzene, and more. Chemical standards parameters are more detailed with over thirty chemicals listed with objectives and guidelines. Water sample tests are taken at various locations and the various parameters analyzed. There are companies providing ongoing monitoring services and equipment maintenance for businesses and individuals in the province, so if you need and search for the term water quality test Mississauga or water quality test Newmarket you will find a company to help you with regular water monitoring in those areas. You may need "water sampling Peterborough" to btain a water test kit or sampling services. You may need a well inspection in Vaughn, Schomberg, Innisville, York, Dufferin-Peel, King City, Orangeville, Guelph, or Halton so a quick search will bring up companies like Tapped In Consulting who specialize in water system management. A company like this has professional engineers and hydrogeologists who can prepare the forms and complete the inspections of the water system. Water potability tests include microbiological tests that are carried out at their laboratories to assess parameters like E.coli and Total Coliform as well as heavy metals, major ions, and trace metals. An Engineering Evaluation Report will be issued showing that the water system is in compliance with provincial guidelines. Pat Boardman presents this information on behalf of Tapped In Consulting Ltd.,who carry out water testing services in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon, Orangeville, Acton, Georgetown, Halton Hills, Milton, Oakville, Hamilton, Guelph, King City, Newmarket, Vaughan, East Gwillimbury, Pefferlaw, Sharon, Peterborough, Innisfil, and Barrie.
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