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Adverse Water Quality Incident Report

Location:
Sunsite Estates Drinking Water System, Township of Assiginack, Manitoulin Island

Incident Resolution:
Pending.  The Sudbury and District Health Unit issued a BWA on October 13, 2006. The Sudbury and District Health Unit rescinded the BWA on December 19, 2006 following the receipt of satisfactory microbiological sample results on December 13 and 14, 2006. The Township of Assiginack issued a BWA on January 17, 2007 as a precautionary measure during the initial start up phase for the new water treatment plant. As of March 26, 2007, the new water treatment plant was still not operational. 

The Sudbury and District Health Unit issued a BWA on March 26, 2007 due to a turbidity spike of >27 NTU. The BWA will remain in place until the new water treatment plant is fully operational.

Type of water source:
Surface Water

Population served:
99 residents, approximately 35 homes

Water works owned/operated by:
Owned by the Township of Assiginack, Operated by Oweson Water Services
The drinking water system is a small municipal residential system

Date MOE notified and by whom:
MOE notified on October 16, 2006 by the Sudbury and District Health Unit. Notification that the BWA issued by the Sudbury and District Health Unit was rescinded was received on December 19, 2006.

MOE notified on March 27, 2007 by the plant operator (Oweson Water Services) that the Sudbury and District Health Unit issued a BWA due to very high turbidity.

Date MOH notified and by whom:
N/A

Date of First Sample(s):
N/A

Who conducted the sampling?:
N/A

Why was sampling initiated?:
N/A

Sample contaminant details:
N/A –A Precautionary BWA was issued due to the potential for turbidity levels resulting from construction activities in the vicinity of the water intake and the current water treatment plant. As of March 26, 2007, the new water treatment plant was still not operational. Treatment consists of chlorination of surface water.

A turbidity spike of > 27 NTU was caused by water from heavy rain running into the clear well through a cracked seal in the overflow valve. The clear well cannot be isolated to be cleaned and flushed, the water has to be directed to the distribution system.

Resampling details and results:
The BWA will remain in place until the new water treatment plant is fully operational and turbidity remains below the provincial standard.

MOE Role:
Safe Drinking Water Staff will continue to ensure chlorine residuals were maintained in the distribution system and confirm that the operating authority continues to take all appropriate corrective actions during all elevated turbidity events.

The local Health Unit and Ministry staff will continue to work closely with the owner of the system 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):
The municipality is in the process of constructing a new membrane filtration plant. The new plant must be operational by February 16, 2007.

As of March 26, 2007, the new water treatment plant was not operational. The municipality applied for an amendment to their certificate of approval to extend the deadline for the start up of the new plant.