Ontario Water Quality Facts and Drinking Water Problems

The most populous province, Ontario shoulders the largest provincial water sourcing and distribution burden in the country. Bordering four of the Great Lakes, these massive bodies of water supply 80% of Ontarians with drinking water. The province relies not only on lakes but also on Ontario’s many rivers and its proximity to Hudson and James bays to provide water for regional mining, manufacturing, and agriculture.

With much of Ontario’s water serving many purposes, the likelihood of contamination and water quality issues can be high. As a result, the province has struggled with a history of moderate groundwater pollution as a result of municipal waste, industry runoff, and fertilizer contaminants. While many of these concerns have been addressed, it’s still common for residents’ tap water to be hard or of generally poor quality. In some areas, water supplies may be impacted by dissolved solids and metal content, which can leave stains behind and cause slight discolouration. In addition to mitigating factors affecting Ontario’s water resources, it’s estimated roughly 140,000 residents across about 42 rural communities don’t have municipal water systems — they rely on independent (sometimes unregulated) or well water systems for use in their homes and businesses.

Your local Ontario Culligan Water Expert is an expert on your water, can test it to determine any problems, and provide the best way to address them.

Common water issues in Windsor, and how to fix them

With no shortage of large water resources nearby, Windsor, like many of its Ontario neighbours, enjoys plentiful supplies of water from the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Erie. As plentiful as the supply is, however, it has not always been without its issues — Windsor has a history of struggling with water quality, and residents have become somewhat accustomed to boil water advisories.

General Poor Taste

While water treatment has dramatically improved for Windsor, with tap water often testing above Ontario’s water quality standards, residents still notice some unpleasant tastes that can affect their tap water.

• Metallic taste or aftertaste
• Chlorinated, not unlike a pool
• Fishy or hints of rotten egg from sulphur

Water Discolourations and Stains

Spotty, Cloudy Dishes

Water high in mineral content can make dishes and glassware seem dirty or dingy no matter how much or how well you clean them. Cloudy residue builds up in the dish soap and dishwasher, causing your glasses, cutlery, and flatware to come out looking a bit dull and, more often than not, covered with water spots.