12/16/2025
The City closely monitors nitrate levels every winter and has implemented numerous proactive measures to ensure safe drinking water. When nitrate levels approach the provincial limit (10 milligrams per Litre), we deploy temporary reverse osmosis (RO) treatment systems that effectively remove nitrates and other contaminants. This winter, four mobile RO trailers will operate at the Holmedale Water Treatment Plant from December 2025 to April 2026 to maintain water safety.
In addition to these short-term measures, the City has allocated $25 million (2025โ2027) for studies, temporary systems, and the design of a permanent RO facility, estimated for construction in 2030. We have also installed a dedicated electrical transformer to power the RO system, eliminating diesel generators and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
If nitrate levels in treated water ever exceeded the Maximum Acceptable Concentration, Grand Erie Public Health would issue a drinking water advisory, and the City would provide bottled or hauled potable water for vulnerable populations. Our commitment is to ensure that the public will be promptly and thoroughly informed of all measures necessary to protect health and safety.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ
Nitrate is a naturally occurring, odourless and colourless compound made up of nitrogen and oxygen. It is essential for plant and animal growth and is commonly found in foods such as vegetables, fruits, cured meats, dairy products, and cereals. Nitrate is naturally present in surface water and groundwater at low levels, but concentrations can increase due to agricultural runoff, livestock operations, and wastewater treatment plant effluents.
During winter months, biological processes in rivers slow down, reducing nitrogen uptake and increasing the potential for elevated nitrate concentrations in the water. Large runoff events caused by unseasonably warm temperatures or rain can transport higher quantities of nitrate into rivers and streams.
๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐
Health Canada warns that the main health threat to the public when nitrate is over 10mg/L is methemoglobinemia, also known as blue baby syndrome. Therefore, the vulnerable populations at risk from ingesting high nitrate in drinking water are:
โข expectant and breastfeeding mothers
โข bottle-fed infants less than six months old
โข all infants one year of age and younger
โข Infants under six months are at the highest risk as they do not yet have the enzyme needed to break down nitrate.
Brantfordโs water supply is rigorously tested multiple times each day to ensure it meets or exceeds all provincial health and safety standards. Read the full public notice to learn more https://bit.ly/4aTcfJL