Municipality reports drinking water is safe

The municipality announced today its drinking water from the Picton and Bloomfield systems has been declared safe to drink.

The municipality learned in late February of the environmental report concerning operations at Picton Terminals that documented high levels of contaminants in Picton Bay with “lethal” effects on fish and fish habitat.

As a result, the County’s Water and Wastewater Department conducted additional testing for parameters indicated in the report – chloride, cyanide, aluminum, and iron and reported test results showed “all parameters remain significantly below the provincial limits, objectives, and guidelines for drinking water”.

Sodium levels in drinking water treated at the Picton Water Treatment Plant, the news release states, “are not elevated at this time. Sodium remains below the 20 milligrams per litre (20mg/L) level that would require the municipality to make a report to the local Medical Officer of Health.”

The County will continue to monitor and test as required under Ontario regulations and in response to the risks identified in the report.