Introduction

The Water Security Agency requires that at least once each year waterworks owners provide notification to consumers of the quality of water produced and supplied as well as information on the performance of the waterworks in submitting samples as required by a Permit to Operate a waterworks.  The following is a summary of the Town of Gull Lake’s water quality and sample submission compliance record for the January 1 – December 31, 2015 time period.  This report was completed on June 30, 2015.  Readers should refer to Water Security Agency’s Municipal Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Guidelines, November 2002, EPB 202 for more information on minimum sample submission requirements and the meaning of type of sample.  Permit requirements for a specific waterworks may require more sampling than outlined in the department’s monitoring guidelines.  If consumers need more information on the nature and significance of specific water tests, for example, “what is the significance of Selenium in a water supply”, more detailed information is available from:  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/water-eau/index_e.html .

All waterworks serving less than 5000 persons are required to submit water samples for SE’s General Chemical category once every two years if a ground water source and once per three months every second year if a surface water or blended surface/groundwater source.  The General Chemical category includes analysis for alkalinity, bicarbonate, calcium, carbonate, chloride, conductivity, hardness (as CaCO₃), magnesium, sodium, sulphate and total dissolved solids.

The last sample for General Chemical analysis was required in 2016 and submitted on January 18, 2016. Samples exceeded provincial aesthetic objectives for the General Chemical category for the following parameter:  alkalinity, sodium, total dissolved solids and sulphate.

 *Objectives apply to certain characteristics of or substances found in water for human consumptive or hygienic use.  The presence of these substances will affect the acceptance of water by consumers and/or interfere with the practice of supplying good quality water.  Compliance with drinking water aesthetic objectives is not mandatory as these objectives are in the range where they do not constitute a health hazards.  The aesthetic objectives for several parameters (including hardness as CaCO_3, magnesium, sodium and total dissolved solids) consider regional differences in drinking water sources and quality.

More information on water quality and sample submission performance may be obtained from:

Town of Gull Lake
Box 150 Gull Lake, SK  S0N 1A0
Telephone Number: 306-672-3361 / Facsimile Number:  306-672-3777
E-mail address:  gulllaketown@sasktel.net