Drinking Water Quality Assurance Program

The Ontario Drinking Water Regulation requires owners of water distribution systems to post copies of their systems' annual water sampling summary reports.

A water distribution system consists of a network of buried watermain pipes found on most city streets. The water distribution system carries treated water from the water treatment plant to the service lines of the individual water consumer. Under regulations, a monitoring program must be provided to regularly sample and test the water from the distribution system at various locations to confirm that the water distributed to individual consumers meets the provincial drinking water requirements.

To undertake the drinking water quality assurance program, the City of Welland developed 12 water sample routes, which, on a weekly basis, cover all areas of the city served by municipally-supplied water. In the course of a week, water samples are taken from a number of locations. Samples are taken by either a waterworks distribution system operator or a licensed water quality analyst, employed by the City. These samples are analyzed in an accredited laboratory. Copies of the laboratory results are forwarded to the City. The regulation requires a summary of the laboratory reports be submitted to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and copies of all reports be made available to the public.

Free copies of the annual reports prepared to date, and a reference copy of all laboratory reports on water samples taken from the City’s water distribution system, are available from the engineering, public works, and transportation services department at City Hall and from the City’s website.

Information on the Region of Niagara's Welland Water Treatment Plant, which supplies water to the City of Welland, the Town of Pelham, and a small portion of the City of Thorold distribution systems, is also available there.