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Adverse Water Quality Incident Report

Location:
Morley Meadowside Manor, Township of Chapple, approx 200 km south of Kenora

Incident Resolution:

Type of water source:
Groundwater

Population served:
10

Water works owned/operated by:
Owned and operated by the Morley Municipal Housing Corporation

Date MOE notified and by whom:
March 16, 2007 by owner and private lab

Date MOH notified and by whom:
March 16, 2007 by owner and private lab

Date of First Sample(s):
March 12, 2007

Who conducted the sampling?:
Operator

Why was sampling initiated?:
Routine sample – sodium collected once every 60 months

Sample contaminant details:
High sodium @ 29.7 mg/L

Resampling details and results:
Resample collected by owner/operator on March 22, 2007.  Result @ 29.7 mg/L.

A Drinking Water Advisory for high sodium was re-issued to the Morley Municipal Housing Corporation – Meadowside Manor well supply on April 3, 2007, by the Northwestern Health Unit. 

MOE Role:
Ministry staff will continue to work with the Northwestern Health Unit and the owner, to ensure that a safe potable water supply is provided to residents receiving water from this drinking-water system.

This system is a non-municipal year-round residential drinking-water system subject to the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Drinking Water Systems Regulation.

Background (if there is a history of the site):
Raw water is obtained from a groundwater supply and undergoes disinfection with sodium hypochlorite and iron removal prior to distribution.

Sodium is naturally occurring in the groundwater supplied to the Morley Meadowside Manor well supply.  The use of sodium hypochlorite as a disinfectant may further increase the sodium concentration of the treated water supply.

Sodium concentrations that exceed 20 mg/L in drinking water samples are indicators of adverse water quality; a maximum acceptable concentration has not been set for sodium.

Persons suffering from hypertension; congestive heart failure; or requiring sodium-restricted diets are advised (by the Drinking Water Advisory) not to consume water from the Morley Meadowside Manor well supply.

Consumption of sodium in excess of 10,000 mg/day by normal adults does not result in any apparent adverse health effects.  The average intake of sodium from water is only a small fraction of that consumed in a normal diet. 

The Morley Meadowside Manor well supply was last inspected on August 15, 2006.  Three non-compliance issues were found; all were addressed in a timely manner.

Elevated concentrations of sodium above 20 mg/L were detected in a water sample collected in 2002.  A Drinking Water Advisory was issued to the Morley Meadowside Manor well supply at that time and has remained in effect. 

The drinking water system does not require a Certificate of Approval.  An Engineering Evaluation Report was completed in August, 2002.

Incident Resolution:
Drinking Water Advisory has been issued.  Tenants have been notified of the advisory.  No further action will be taken at this time.