Drinking Water Supply

We supply treated water to the municipalities. The municipalities then supply the water to properties in their municipality.
The Cities and Townships operate and maintain the water distribution systems including watermains, valves, service connections, and fire hydrants. They are also responsible for billing properties.

Our municipal water system

Explore our Water is Life storymap. Learn more about where municipal drinking water comes from in Waterloo Region, how this water gets to your taps, and what we are doing to protect and maintain a sustainable supply for future generations.

Our water sources

We rely on groundwater and water from the Grand River for our drinking water. Learn how you can help protect our drinking water sources and water saving tips.

Hard water and water softeners

Much of municipal drinking water in Waterloo Region comes from groundwater wells. Groundwater is considered hard water due to the water picking up minerals as it travels underground. The water is safe to drink. But the minerals contribute to scale buildup in pipes and appliances. Many residences use water softeners to replace the minerals with salt. This results in "softened" water. Learn about water softeners including water hardness for your area and tips to use less water and salt.

Water reports

Each year we release:

Water quality report and summary that compares the level of quality for the drinking water in Waterloo Region to the Ontario Drinking Water Standards in the legislation O.Reg.169/03.
Water and wastewater monitoring report documents actual water use and wastewater flows, water production and wastewater treatment capacities, development planning and remaining capacity

Quality Management System policy

The Quality Management System (QMS) for drinking water systems supports our dedication to providing high quality drinking water. The Operational Plans for the QMS are available upon request.

Our commitment is to:

Manage potential risks, and provide safe drinking water to consumers
Manage water operations and maintenance activities to comply with applicable legislation, regulations, guidelines, and standards
Maintain and continually improve the Quality Management System
Communicate relevant policies and programs to internal and external stakeholders, as applicable
Review this policy, at least annually, to ensure it continues to be appropriate for the subject drinking water systems

Environmental Enforcement and Laboratory Services

Environmental Enforcement and Laboratory Services (EELS) is responsible for environmental protection and testing water quality through monitoring, enforcement, and laboratory analysis in support of Regional, Provincial and Federal legislation.

Fact sheets

Chromium

What is chromium?

Chromium is a metal and is naturally present in small amounts in rocks and soils. It is used in many metal processing industries and manufacturing.

Are there different kinds of chromium?

Chromium occurs in the environment primarily in two forms: Chromium-3 and Chromium-6. The Region monitors Total Chromium in drinking water, which is the sum of both forms of chromium. The provincial drinking water standard assumes that all of the chromium is in the chromium-6 form.

Is the Region’s water safe to drink, bathe and do laundry?

The Region's drinking water is safe for drinking, bathing, and doing laundry. Our water is of high quality, regularly tested and consistently meets all Ontario's health-based standards.

What does the Region do to monitor chromium in my drinking water?

The Region tests our drinking water regularly (annually from a surface water source and every 3 years from a ground water source). Results are compared to the Ontario Drinking Water Standards, which are set by the province to protect health. Our water consistently meets these standards.

How does the Region test for chromium?

Chromium in the Region’s drinking water is measured using specialized equipment and methods by a laboratory accredited by the province to perform drinking water analysis. Specialized sampling procedures are also required in order for results to be considered valid.

What is the drinking water standard for chromium?

Ontario sets a health-based limit of 0.05 mg/L for chromium in drinking water. The typical chromium concentration at Regional supply wells is under 0.01 mg/L

What is a milligram per litre (mg/L)? What is 0.05 mg/L?

A “milligram per litre” is a way to express the amount of a substance, for example chromium, in drinking water. For reference, a mosquito weighs a few milligrams, and a bag of milk is a little more than a litre. The drinking water standard for chromium is 0.05 mg/L. This is about 1/20^th of a milligram in a litre of drinking water.

Could chromium cause odours or damage my plumbing?

No. Chromium will not cause any odours. The levels measured in the Region’s water will not damage plumbing.

What happens to chromium in the environment and is it safe to eat fish?

Once in a river or creek, some chromium will be dissolved and some will attach to particles. Chromium can be taken up by organisms in the water and can change between chromium-6 and chromium-3, depending on local conditions. Chromium is not a concern for eating fish from the Grand River.

Why are we concerned about chromium?

Chromium in the chromium-6 form may be a health concern. More information on the health concerns is available through the Health Canada “Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for Chromium.”