The 2011 Typical Water Quality Analysis is a summary of typical water quality for the Pockwock and Lake Major Systems. Halifax Water meets or exceeds the requirements of the Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines published by Health Canada.

Testing

Haifax Water undertakes a comprehensive water testing program. Bacteriological testing is done twice per week at 48 locations within the urban core, and weekly at each of the small systems.

Additional testing includes:

• Continuous flow through sensors to monitor chlorine residual, pH, and turbidity of treated water leaving each plant as well as locations within the plant, to monitor and optimize the treatment process.
• Testing at 4-5 locations within each treatment plant six to eight times daily to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment process and verify the information from the inline sensor.
• Quarterly sampling of treated water at 2-3 locations within the distribution system for approximately 40 chemical parameters.
• Quarterly sampling of raw lake water and water from contributing streams for approximately 40 chemical parameters.
• Bi-annual sampling of Lake Major and Pockwock Lake raw and treated water for all parameters in the Guidelines For Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
• Bi-annual testing and sampling for giardia cysts and crytosporidium for treated and raw water for all surface water systems.

Water Quality Reporting

Water test results are reported to Nova Scotia Environment and Labour and the Nova Scotia Medical Officer of Health on a regular basis. Protocols have been established between Halifax Water, and the provincial Health and Environment departments, to clearly delineate roles and responsibilities, in advance, in the unlikely event of a disruption in water quality.