Commonly Asked Questions

Water is tested throughout the treatment process at every step starting from raw water taken from the Holmedale Canal to the finished drinking water supplied for a multitude of chemical and microbial parameters. 

There are several on-line analyzers that continuously test the water quality throughout the water treatment process.

Water treatment operators manually test water quality and cross-check on-line analyzer readings.
Samples of water from the Water Treatment Plant and the distribution system are also periodically shipped to a certified lab which reports the results directly to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).

Reports on water quality monitoring are available online. Water treatment plant operators are physically present at the Water Treatment Plant 24/7 and 365 days a year monitoring the drinking water supplied.

The City also has multiple layers of monitoring as explained above.

The City maintains the distribution pipes through regular flushing and also replaces the old pipes and valves annually as part of a comprehensive Asset Management Program.

In addition to the City, the Brant County Health Unit and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks provide oversight to safeguard Brantford’s drinking water quality.

The Plant takes water from the Grand River through the Holmedale Canal. The water then goes through several treatment steps before it is ready for drinking.

Screening:

Water is pumped from the Canal and goes through screens to remove leaves and debris.

Coagulation/Flocculation:

Coagulation removes dirt and other particles suspended in water. Chemicals are added to water to form tiny sticky particles called "flocs" which attract the dirt particles. The combined weight of the dirt and the alum (floc) becomes heavy enough to sink to the bottom during sedimentation.

Sedimentation:

In the sedimentation process, the heavy particles (flocs) settle to the bottom and the clear water at the top moves to the Ozonation process.

Ozonation:

There are many benefits to adding ozone to water. Ozone is added to break down dissolved organic particles such as the ones responsible for imparting taste and odour to drinking water. Ozone improves the performance of other water treatment processes such as disinfection and filtration.

Filtration:

In the filtration process, the water passes through filters, made of layers of sand and anthracite (charcoal) that help remove small particles and dissolved organic matter.

Ultraviolet Disinfection:

It is used to kill pathogens that are resistant to chlorine disinfection.

Chlorination:

It is the primary method of disinfecting the water. Most pathogens are killed by chlorine disinfection. Once the water has been disinfected, a small amount of ammonia is also added to maintain a chloramine residual in the distribution network and prevent pathogen growth.

Distribution:

Clean drinking water is then pumped through a network of pipes and reservoirs to homes and businesses across the community.

Chlorine Taste and Odour: The taste or smell of chlorine in the water supply is sometimes detectable. Chlorine is added to the water supply as a disinfectant to kill disease-causing organisms in treated water. The strength and persistence of the chlorine is usually dependent on the proximity of your property to the point at which the water is dosed with chlorine. Put a pitcher of water in the fridge. Cold water tastes and smells better.

Pungent Taste and Odour: A pungent taste and odour is mainly a seasonal occurrence, which may happen periodically in the fall or the spring seasons. It simply occurs as a result of chlorine combining with a higher than usual amount of organic matter in the drinking water supply. Examples of organic matter include dead leaves and algae growth in the water source, which is the Grand River. Although these occurrences impart an unusual taste to the water, it is safe to drink. As with chlorine taste & odour problems, it is recommended that a pitcher of water be cooled in the fridge before drinking.

Swampy Sulfur-like Odour: Unless you use a private well water supply, the odour is most likely from your sewer drain line, not your tap water. This offensive odour is caused by bacteria that grow on decaying hair, soap or food trapped in the drain. If the smell appears at only some of your faucets, then you’ll know it is coming from your sink drain. To eliminate the problem, slowly pour ½ cup of bleach in the affected drain and let sit for about 10 minutes before turning on your tap. If this odour comes from all faucets and doesn’t go away after running your taps for a few minutes, then the problem is likely with your house sewer trap.

Tap water is fresh and locally treated. It is readily available in your homes and businesses. Bottled water is expensive and generates excessive waste and pollutes the environment. The plastic from the bottles can leach toxic compounds into the water, which in turn gets absorbed by the body.

The City works with the Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP), the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) and the upstream municipalities to prevent discharges and spills into the River. The GRCA monitors Grand River water quality and regulates the flow to maintain adequate levels in the summer months. The City has worked closely with the GRCA and the MECP in developing “The Brantford Source Protection Plan” and is in the enforcement phase to ensure the safety of our water source. For more information please visit the Source Water Protection page. The City of Brantford has also developed an Algae Management Plan to monitor algae growth and types from June 1 to October 31 annually.

If the discolouration does not clear after at least 5 minutes of flushing, the problem is more likely to be associated with sediments in the distribution system. Please contact Customer Service at 519-759-4150 so that arrangements can be made to flush the local water main supply to the property.

Green or Blue Water: Very heavily corroded copper plumbing can sometimes turn water a greenish-blue colour. This can happen if your electrical system is grounded to your water pipes. For those who operate water softeners, discolouration can intensify if the settings are too high. Even keeping your water heater at too high of a temperature can cause a greenish colour. Seek the advice of a certified plumber.