Ontario Water Quality Facts and Drinking Water Problems

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Ontario Water Quality Facts and Drinking Water Problems

Updated: July 6, 2020 July 6, 2020

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Updated: July 6, 2020

Published: July 6, 2020

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 Brantford, and how to fix them

The city of Brantford enforces strict measures to protect its drinking water source, the Grand River, from potentially harmful contaminants. As with many surface water sources, The Grand River, though well-treated by the city of Brantford, still experiences many of the same issues common to river and lake water sourcing.

Hard, Poor-Quality Water

Hard water can make itself known throughout your home in a number of unwelcome, unappealing ways, including:

Skin that feels dry or itchy after showering
Damaged hair that’s prone to breakage
Quickly deteriorating appliances
Buildup on faucets and drains

Lime Buildup or White Scale

The high mineral content of hard water can cause lime buildup or white scale to form on faucets and drains throughout your home. Not only is this an unsightly problem, it’s an even bigger pain to clean up.

Soap Scum or Residue

Those same hard water minerals that lead to lime buildup and white scale are also responsible for soap scum and residue appearing in your sinks, on your shower doors, and around your bathtubs.

Ready for Better Water?

Schedule an appointment now for your free in-home water test or phone consultation. Your local Culligan water expert will help you find the best solution for getting cleaner, safer water in your home.