Water & Wastewater
2023 Performance Report
2021 Performance Report
2021 Annual Drinking Water Summary
2021 Performance Report
Watson & Associates Report
Source Water Protection
Drinking water source protection safeguards public health by protecting the municipal drinking water supply from contaminants like sewage, fuel and chemicals. If water sources become contaminated, treatment can be much more expensive or even impossible.
Ontario’s Clean Water Act provides the legislative framework for Source Protection in Ontario. It ensures communities prevent contamination of their municipal drinking water supplies by developing collaborative, watershed-based source protection plans that are locally driven and based on science.
In Westport, the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan applies and has been in effect since 2015. The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan contains policies to protect our current and future drinking water supplies from threats of contamination or overuse. Municipal drinking water can come from groundwater wells that draw water from underground aquifers, or surface water, which draws water from lakes and rivers. Source protection policies related to significant drinking water threats only apply in designated drinking water protection zones. These vulnerable areas are also known as Intake Protection Zones (IPZ) and Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPA). Different policies apply to different parts of the IPZ or WHPA because certain areas are more vulnerable to contamination.
Do I live in a drinking water protection zone?
Use this interactive map to determine if your home or business is located in a drinking water protection zone. If you live in a drinking water protection zone, you’re encouraged to take easy steps to protect drinking water for yourself and your neighbours.
Depending on your property’s location and land uses, you may also be required to follow a prescribed risk management plan for your property or subject to additional protective restrictions. Learn more here: https://www.mrsourcewater.ca/en/risk-management-and-environmental-compliance/risk-management-plans
Who can I contact for more information?
Marika Livingston, Project Manager
Water Distribution System
Westport’s water distribution system is based on an elevated water tower, which permits a gravity-fed pressurized system. Only system pumps are well pumps.
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Tower capacity 6-8 hours supply; major renovations ($550K) completed in 2005
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Distribution piping approximately 5.2 km; almost all installed 1972; entire system is PVC plastic pipe
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Water source is two (2) municipal wells adjacent to Westport Arena and Lockwood Field
Water Distribution Building on Concession Street
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Groundwater treatment is chlorine and ultra-violet ray (UV) scanning
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System constructed in 1972; services approximately 285 customers
Drinking Water System
White Water
Why does my drinking water look cloudy sometimes?
Once in a while, you get a glass of water and it looks cloudy; maybe milky is a better term. After a few seconds it miraculously clears up! The cloudiness might be caused by the water in the pipes being under a bit more pressure than the water in the glass, but is more likely due to tiny air bubbles in the water. Like any bubble, the air rises to the top of the water and goes into the air above, clearing up the water. Cloudy water, also known as white water, is caused by air bubbles in the water. It is completely harmless.
It usually happens when it is very cold outside because the solubility of air in water increases as water pressure increases and/or water temperature decreases. Cold water holds more air than warm water. In the winter, water travels from the reservoir which is very cold and warms up during its travel to your tap. Some of the air that is present is no longer soluble, and comes out of solution.
Also, water pressure has something to do with it. The water in the pipes is pressurized to a degree (which helps to get the water all the way from the water tower to your home). Water under pressure holds more air than water that is not pressurized. Once the water comes out of your tap, the water is no longer under pressure and the air comes out of solution as bubbles (similar to a carbonated soft drink). The best thing to do is let it sit in an open container until the bubbles naturally disappear.
– USGS Water Science School
Cloudy water caused by tiny air bubbles in the water is not harmful to health.
How do I know if cloudiness is really because of air?
There is a really simple way to check whether milky white water is due to the release of dissolved air. Fill a clean glass with tap water and place it on the worktop. You will notice that the water clears from the bottom of the glass as the bubbles rise slowly to the surface. The effect can be seen in the photograph below.
Wastewater
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2 lagoons; one (1) original (1972); one (1) constructed 1995, employed for efficient storage
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Summer 2017 new wastewater treatment system being constructed
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Will be in operation November 2017
Wastewater Pumping Station
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has a single force main from a pumping station on Glen Street
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Collection system piping (approx. 4.8 km) was constructed in 1972; designed to gravity feed the pumping station
Westport By-Laws Relating to discharge into Sewer System
Land Drainage/Sewer – By-Law #85-23
No person/business is permitted to discharge (dump) into land drainage works, drains or connections to any sewer, sewer system or sewage works for the carrying away of domestic sewage or industrial wastes, such as oil, fat, grease of animal or vegetable origin; oil, grease, and tar of mineral origin; or any other matter capable of obstructing or interfering with the proper operation of any part of the sewage works; as outlined in By-Law #85-23. Any person found guilty of an offense under the provisions of this by-law shall be subject to a penalty of up to $300 for each offense.
Discharge of Storm Water – By-Law #85-18
No person shall cause or permit the discharge of any storm water, including surface water, groundwater, rain runoff, foundation drain or other subsurface drainage including any unpolluted cooling or heating water or unpolluted industrial process water into the Sewage Works of the Ministry. By-Law #85-18. Any person found guilty of an offense under the provisions of this by-law shall be subject to a penalty of up to $200 for each offense.
By-Law #85-22
Sanitary sewer, shall mean a sewer which carries sewage and to which storm and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.