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Water Quality

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Image of water pouring from a tap

Contact Us

Dave Blake
Supervisor of Environmental Services
408 James Street South, St. Marys, Ontario, N4X 1B6

T.: 519-284-2340 x 209
F.: 519-284-0902
E-Mail the Supervisor of Environmental Services
Map this Location.


The Town of St. Marys is committed to providing safe, clean and reliable drinking water to all the residents and businesses within the Town.

The Town and the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) prepare annual reports on the drinking water system to meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. We also test all municipally owned or controlled buildings and drinking fountains for lead.

Please see below for the most recent results.

Lead testing results

The following facilities have been recently tested for lead levels in drinking water. Please see below for the results. 

Please note: This list excludes other Town-owned buildings that are subject to specific lead testing and monitoring requirements through the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 such as the municipal water distribution system and Childcare Centre.

Lead in drinking water at municipal facilities (July 14, 2022)
FacilityRegulatory Limit (ug/L)First Sample Result (ug/L)Second Sample Result (ug/L)

Town Hall

10

0.31

0.35

St. Marys Public Library

10

0.60

0.50

Cemetery

10

0.49

0.45

Pyramid Recreation Centre (PRC)

10

0.09

0.09

Municipal Operations Centre (MOC)

10

1.52

1.62

VIA Rail Station

10

0.84

1.14

Teddy’s Field

10

0.39

0.38

Lind Sportsplex

10

0.79

0.80

Fire Hall

10

1.24

1.42

Weir Fountain

10

1.40

1.71

Grand Trunk Trail Fountain

10

0.18

0.17

Riverview Walkway Fountain

10

0.06

0.06

Cadzow Park Fountain

10

0.19

0.19

Sodium testing results 

The Water Supply for the Town of St. Marys is obtained from a Bedrock Aquifer, which undergoes treatment processes in accordance to Ministry of Environment requirements.

Sodium levels (January 9, 2020)
ParameterResult Value (mg/L)
Sodium - Treated Water 1 27.2
Sodium - Treated Water 2 49.7
Sodium - Treated Water 3 44.1
Frequently Asked Questions about sodium

The following information has been prepared to assist customers of the St. Marys Water Supply in understanding the composition of the water supplied by the Town regarding Sodium.

For details on water quality, please contact the Town of St. Marys at 519-284-2340 ext. 209.

Additionally, you can contact the Huron Perth Health Unit at 1-888-221-2133 for health related issues and water intake.

Information sources referenced:

  • Dietary Reference Intakes from Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride and Sulfate, The National Academies, 2004.
  • Canadian Nutrient File, Health Canada, 2005., Health Canada, Canadian Water Quality Association, U.S.E.P.A.
What is sodium?
Sodium is a mineral that can be found in a variety of foods and drinking water supplies. Sodium (Na) is one of the chemical elements found in table salt (known as sodium chloride).
Is sodium toxic?
Sodium is not considered a toxic element. The human body needs sodium in order to maintain blood pressure, control fluid levels and for normal nerve and muscle function. Sodium occurs naturally in all foods, and sodium levels vary considerably for different types of food. Food processing can add significant amounts of sodium. 
Has sodium in St. Marys water increased over the past few years?

Analysis of sodium testing conducted over the past 20 years in St. Marys, has shown no measurable increase.

As such, no direct correlation can be made between road slat usage/well intrusion and our elevated sodium levels. Naturally occurring sodium is common in our geographical area.

Sodium levels are monitored across all three water supply wells for the Town and can have varying results. For this reason, the level of sodium that may be present within the municipal water supply could vary based on which well site is in operation.

The following is a graphical representation of sodium levels within the Town’s drinking water from 2010 to 2020.

Chart showing sodium levels in drinking water over 20 years

Is the sodium level in water supplied by the Town unhealthy?

The amount of sodium present in water supplied by the Town of St. Marys is not a health concern for most people. A small percentage of the population may have been advised to follow severe sodium-restricted diets, such as patients with heart failure, kidney failure, or severe hypertension. Sodium levels in water may be something they need to consider. 

Even for individuals on very strict sodium restricted diets of 500 mg/day, two litres of water would only account for a minor portion of their daily allotment of sodium.

If you are concerned about the level of sodium in the Town’s water supply, and their overall daily sodium intake, please contact the Town at 519-284-2340 ext. 209 to further discuss sodium levels and water consumption.

What are the guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality? 

The Ontario Drinking Water Systems Regulation 170/03 under the Safe Drinking Water Act 2002 requires reporting to the local Medical Officer of Health when sodium levels in public drinking water supplies exceed 20 mg/L. At this point, the local Medical Officer of Health informs local physicians so that doctors may advise their patients accordingly, who are on sodium-restricted diets.

The aesthetic objective for sodium in drinking water is ≤200 mg/L. The taste of drinking water is generally considered offensive at sodium concentrations above the aesthetic objective. Therefore, our bodies provide a natural “built-in” restriction on the amount you will drink. 

What is the average recommended intake of sodium?

Most people consume more sodium than they need. While the average daily intake of sodium for healthy adults is about 3,100mg, this is well above the 2,300mg that is considered the maximum amount an adult should consume in a day.

The main source of sodium in most diets comes from processed foods, such as snack foods, fast foods, processed meats, soups, crackers, and condiments.

Approximate sodium levels of some common foods and beverages
ItemSodium LevelItemSodium Level

Table Salt (1 tsp.)

2350 mg

Baked Beans (1 cup)

790 mg

Bagel, Plain

379 mg

Cheese, Processed (1 slice)

250 mg

Breakfast Cereal (1 cup)

300 mg

Lunch Meats (1 oz.)

350 mg

Tomato Juice, Processed (1 cup)

691 mg

Bottled Water (varies)

36 mg

(Reference: Canada Nutrient File, 2005)

How do water softeners affect sodium levels in my water?

When water is softened at home, it is done by passing the water through a bed of ion-exchange media that replaces hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) with sodium chloride (salt) or potassium (sodium chloride being the most common).

While this reduces the hardness of your water, it can possibly add significant amounts of sodium at your tap. It is recommended that a separate, un-softened supply be used for drinking and cooking purposes. Further, softened water should not be given to infants and not be used in preparing infant beverages, including formula and juice.

What kind of filtration systems can I use to remove sodium from my tap water?

Neither pitcher-type filtration units nor the boiling of water will remove sodium from the water.

Some home owners, especially those sensitive to sodium, have chosen to use reverse osmosis or distillation devices to remove or reduce the sodium and other unwanted minerals from their water supply.

When purchasing a treatment device, look for one that has been certified by an organization accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). In addition, the treatment device should meet the NSF/ANSI Standard 62 on drinking water distillation systems or Standard 58 on reverse osmosis systems.

Always be wary of door-to-door sales people who try to sell you a water purification device. These people do not represent the town. If someone approaches you to do a free drinking water test, keep in mind that this could be a tactic to sell a very “over-priced” water purification device.

While selling water treatment devices is not a crime, improper testing of drinking water can be. If you are interested in purchasing a water treatment device, many local, reputable companies can assist you.

Overall reports

Fully accessible versions of all documents below are available in print upon request. 

  • 2021 Annual Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2020 Annual Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2019 Annual Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2018 Annual Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2017 Summary Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2016 Summary Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2015 Summary Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2014 Summary Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2013 Summary Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2012 Summary Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2011 Summary Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2010 Summary Report - St. Marys Water System
  • 2009 Summary Report - St. Marys Water System

 

 

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