The Township of Ramara works with the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) to safely and efficiently maintain our municipally owned water systems.

Annual Drinking Water Reports

Under the Ontario Drinking Water Systems regulation (O. Reg. 170/03), municipalities who maintain drinking water systems are required to prepare an annual report on the operation of the water system and the quality of its water.  Hard copies of the reports can be made available upon request, free of charge. If you have any further questions, please contact the Infrastructure Department at 705-484-5374 ext. 285

Ministry of Environment drinking water inspection reports 

Appearance, taste and odour

If you have concerns related to the appearance, taste, or odour of your water, please contact OCWA at 705-484-5600 during regular business hours. 

Private well owners are responsible for protecting and properly maintaining their own drinking water system.

Haloacetic Acids in Drinking Water (HAAs)

Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are a group of compounds that can form when chlorine used to disinfect drinking water reacts with naturally occurring organic matter (e.g., decaying leaves and vegetation). HAA levels can vary over time when factors change, for example the temperature of the raw water, natural organic matter present in the raw water, treated water temperature and water storage levels.

In December, 2022, routine quarterly testing of drinking water from the Davy Drive water system revealed that HAA levels exceed the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 80 ug/L. We are required to sample and test water from the distribution system for HAAs 4 times a year (at least once in every calendar quarter) and we are required to calculate a running annual average of the previous 4 sample results.  If the running average is over 80 ug/L, then written notice must be sent to the Health Unit.  A notice was also provided to all users of the Davy Drive water system. 

The Township of Ramara along with its operating authority are working to optimize the treatment process to reduce HAA levels to meet standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. 

Although sample results show HAA levels are trending down, the running annual average of sampling results are still greater than 80 ug/L, therefore the exceedance remains.  

Below is a summary of HAA sampling results since the original exceedance.

The following actions have already been taken to troubleshoot and optimize the treatment process to reduce HAA’s in the drinking water system:

• Additional samples were collected throughout the process to aid in determining where the bulk of the HAA’s are being made
• Chlorine dosages were optimized to decrease the production of HAA’s
• Reservoir operating level was adjusted to create a shorter retention time
• OCWA’s Process Optimization and Technical Services group provided additional troubleshooting and optimization aid
• Ordered and received DPD’s to test iron and manganese residual pre and post filter to further optimize chemical dosage and ensure iron and manganese removal is not impacted
• Well #4 put offline to determine if additional organics are being produced from Well #4. Trial well #4 while in production and collect treated water samples to determine if it is a contributing factor – Well #4 was placed back online and it did not increase the HAA value
• Review of filter backwash frequency to determine if is a contributing factor – No correlation has been identified
• Review of historic static well levels and weather patterns (temperature, precipitation) to determine if there is an impact on raw water quality.

The following actions are currently being taken to troubleshoot and optimize the treatment process to reduce HAA’s in the drinking water system:

• Well #1 was recently rehabbed
• Looking at changing the 25 micron cartridge filter for particulate removal to a cartridge filter with carbon for reduction of chorine from the pre-chlorination which meets FDA approval ISO 9001 certification

Another summary will be provided at the end of the next quarter (October).

Visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit's website to learn more about the acceptable level of HAAs in drinking water, potential concerns, how it can be reduced and more. 

Learn more