Drinking water testing and services
The quality of water leaving our treatment facilities and entering your property must be monitored to demonstrate compliance with the provincial drinking water quality standards. That’s why water testing takes place at Peel’s treatment plants, and throughout the distribution system.
We test drinking water to:
- Know the quality of the source water (lake water, groundwater-wells).
- Make sure the treatment process is effective.
- Protect the drinking water supply.
- Make sure Peel’s drinking water is always excellent in quality and meets all regulatory requirements.
We test thousands of water samples throughout the year for a variety of parameters.
Testing and operational checks ensure that Peel’s water supply stays within the safe ranges for chemicals (natural and synthetic) and microorganisms and to demonstrate Peel’s water is safe.
Our Water and Wastewater Regulatory Compliance team reviews all test results. If the results do not meet water quality safety standards, immediate action is taken to report the incident to the Medical Officer of Health and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and take steps to fix it.
Only trained and certified operators sample and test water from Peel’s drinking water systems.
These certified operators:
- Never leave bottles at residents’ doors requesting a sample of water for testing.
- Do not authorize other companies to collect water samples on the Region’s behalf.
- Always wear Peel issued photo ID card and drive Region of Peel vehicles.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Water Quality Team at 905-791-7800, ext. 4685 or email Water Quality in Peel.
Municipal drinking water systems in Ontario are required to monitor lead concentration in water supply by establishing a Community Lead Testing Program.
We test drinking water for lead twice a year at private (homes and business) taps and in the distribution system (i.e., municipal hydrants) throughout Mississauga, Brampton, and south Caledon. If your home or business is eligible, we’ll test the tap water for lead.
Our program results have consistently met provincial drinking water quality standards and Health Canada Guidelines.
Lead in Peel’s drinking water is well below the acceptable lead levels of 10 parts per billion.
To view a summary of lead results for previous years’ testing and for more information about your drinking water in Peel, visit our Water Quality Reports page.
If lead levels test above the provincial limit, we investigate the municipal (public side) section of the water service pipe that connects the home or business to the watermain. If the municipal service pipe contains lead, we immediately replace it.
If we find lead on the private (home or business owner’s) side of the service connection or in the building’s plumbing, we encourage the owner to replace the pipe or to monitor and control the lead levels. Refer to replacing your private side water service for more information.
We regularly monitor sodium levels in Peel’s drinking water. Water samples are analyzed at an accredited laboratory, then the results are reviewed, summarized, and made available to the public.
While sodium isn’t toxic, more than 20 mg/L sodium in drinking water may affect people with high blood pressure or heart disease. Sodium test results are posted here on Peel’s website so the information is available to local physicians.
When the sodium in a municipal water supply exceeds 20 mg/L and is significantly different from typical levels in the municipal water system, we notify Peel Region’s Medical Officer of Health (MOH).
Sodium in lake water
Water supplied to Mississauga, Brampton, the Town of Bolton, and southern areas of Caledon (north of Mayfield) is drawn from Lake Ontario. Sodium levels in this water source are typically below the 20 mg/L but experience a slight increase each spring as rain and snowmelt wash road salt into the lake.
Sodium in groundwater
The drinking water supplied to some Caledon communities comes from groundwater. Groundwater may be higher in sodium in some areas. Sodium found in groundwater sources happens naturally. Several communal wells in Caledon provide water with a sodium concentration above 20 mg/L.
Water softeners can also be a source of higher sodium in drinking water. Water softeners replace naturally occurring calcium and magnesium (hardness) with soft salts such as sodium.
Sodium test results for 2022
| Water System | Sodium Concentration (mg/L) Second Round 2022 (July to December) | Sodium Concentration (mg/L) First Round 2023 (January to June) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | Max | Min | Max | |
| Alton | 63 | 69 | 62 | 76 |
| Caledon Village | 13 | 39 | 13 | 38 |
| Caledon East | 9.5 | 100 | 8.6 | 110 |
| Palgrave | 7.3 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.9 |
| Cheltenham | 27 | 29 | 33 | 34 |
| Inglewood | 18 | 27 | 19 | 23 |
| South Peel (Mississauga, Brampton, South Caledon) | 16 | 18 | 20 | 25 |
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks inspects Peel’s drinking water systems annually. These inspections ensure that Peel is maintaining compliance with the regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Each inspection includes a review of Peel’s:
- Sampling, testing, and monitoring records.
- Treatment standards and disinfection criteria.
- Operator training and certification.
- Water system integrity and security.
- Maintenance programs.
- Reporting and documentation.
We prepare annual water quality reports each year to inform the public about the results of these inspections, water quality test results, and the overall performance of our water systems.
If you use municipal tap water for home haemodialysis treatment, complete our Critical Water User registration form or call 905-791-7800, extension 4685.
We’ll make every effort to contact you before a scheduled water interruption so you can plan ahead.
Small drinking water systems can be found in public buildings and facilities such as:
- churches
- community centres
- gas stations
- libraries
- motels
- restaurants
- seasonal trailer parks
- summer camps
The water in these systems does not come from Peel Region water treatment plants.
Peel Public Health inspects small water drinking systems.
During an inspection, a Peel Public Health Inspector will tell you how to keep your drinking water safe, and which kinds of additional water testing, treatments, or training you might need.