Ontario Water Quality Facts and Drinking Water Problems

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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 Georgetown, and how to fix them

Bounded by the Great Lakes, the city of Georgetown is part of the greater region of Halton, and sits along the banks of the Credit River. Its geography allows for a bountiful supply of surface water for the city’s use, and it is sourced, treated, and distributed through the Halton Region’s five water treatment and purification plants. Problem water can sometimes pervade even the most well-treated water — especially water that originates from surface sources — which can cause some common complaints for Georgetown homeowners.

Hard Water

Dissolved minerals often make their way into Georgetown’s water via sediment from the Credit River and Lake Ontario. The result is hard water, made that way by minerals like iron and calcium, that can make water hard to manage throughout the home, causing:

Elevated utility bills
Dry, irritated skin
Scratchy, stiff laundry
Water discolourations

Sulphur Odours

Dissolved sulphur can be hard to miss in your water, as it often evokes a particularly pungent rotten-egg smell. This smell is commonly caused by natural fluctuations in the bacteria that cause hydrogen sulphide, the cause of the odour. Since bacteria often thrive in warmer conditions, odours can be worse at certain times of the year — namely, during the spring and summer months in and around Georgetown.

Low-Performing Appliances

Hard water makes it harder for water appliances to do their jobs effectively. The minerals and sediment that often accompany hard water, like iron and calcium, leave buildup behind in dishwashers and washing machines — even coffee pots and humidifiers — in addition to affecting the necessary plumbing and fixtures appliances require. Homeowners often notice this contributing to rising utility bills as big-ticket appliances have to use more energy to do their jobs.

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.