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Adverse Water Quality Incident Report

Location:
Crossroads Public School, 25 km west of Fort Frances, in Devlin, Rainy River District.

Incident Resolution:
Pending

Type of water source:
Groundwater

Population served:
Approximately 250 students plus staff

Water works owned/operated by:
Rainy River District School Board
System class: Small non-municipal non-residential, designated facility

Date MOE notified and by whom:
May 12, 2006, by lab and operator

Date MOH notified and by whom:
May 12, 2006, by lab and operator

Date of First Sample(s):
May 8, 2006

Who conducted the sampling?:
Operator

Why was sampling initiated?:
Routine sampling

Sample contaminant details:
Elevated concentration of sodium @ 53.1 mg/L (limit is 20 mg/L)

Resampling details and results:
Resample collected on May 15, 2006.
Resample results = 40.2 mg/L

MOE Role:
Ministry staff will continue to work closely with the local Health Unit and the Rainy River District School Board to protect public health, and to ensure that a safe potable water supply is maintained for the users of this system.

Background (if there is a history of the site):
Elevated concentrations of sodium are mainly a concern to individuals on sodium-reduced diets.

The source for the drinking water is a drilled well. Raw water is softened using potassium chloride and then treated by cartridge filtration, ultra violet primary disinfection and sodium hypochlorite secondary disinfection.

The system has never been inspected by the MOE.

A Boil Water Advisory was issued to the Crossroads School on September 2, 2005, due to the presence of high general bacteria populations as measured on a heterotrophic plate count (i.e., HPC). The advisory was rescinded on September 12, 2005, after resample results confirmed that bacteria had been eliminated from the drinking-water system and the water was safe to consume.

Water samples collected from the Crossroads School on July 29, 2005, contained high general bacteria populations, as measured on a heterotrophic plate count (i.e., HPC). Corrective actions were initiated immediately and successfully eliminated the adverse condition. The issue was resolved on August 8, 2005.

A Certificate of Approval is not required for this system.