Frequently Asked Questions About Water
This section answers some of the commonly asked questions about drinking water in the City of Kingston. If you have a question that is not addressed in this section, please contact the Water Quality Assurance Office at 389-0562.
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If your water supply is part of Kingston's municipal water distribution system, your drinking water meets or exceeds all provincial and federal drinking water standards. Regular testing is carried out on Kingston's municipal water on the physical, inorganic, organic, microbiological and radiological characteristics of the water. The results are analyzed to confirm that quality water is maintained as the water travels through the distribution system to your tap.
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At times during the year, you may find your tap water appears cloudy. This is not a health concern. Cloudy water is usually caused by dissolved air which is released in the form of fine bubbles when cold water becomes warmer. These air bubbles give the water its cloudy appearance. To confirm this, fill a glass with cold water and observe. You should notice the air bubbles disappear from the bottom of the glass upwards.
If your hot water appears cloudy, the water may be too hot. To solve this problem, adjust the temperature setting on your hot water tank.
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Fire hydrant flushing and watermain flushing or repairs can disturb sediments in the watermains resulting in a orange or brown coloured tap water. Watermain and hydrant flushing is necessary to ensure adequate supply and pressure for the fire protection system. This coloured water is not a health concern and can usually be corrected by turning on all the faucets in your home for approximately 10 minutes to flush any sediment out of the system.
If you notice coloured water when you turn on your hot water taps, you likely need to drain the sediment at the bottom of your hot water tank. Do this by attaching a garden hose to the tank's faucet, opening the faucet and allow the tank to empty into a container or laundry tub for about a minute or until the water is clear. Repeat this procedure monthly to prevent further build-up of the sediment. If you are not confident or are uncomfortable with this procedure, contact a plumber.
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Water hardness in the City of Kingston is on average 120 mg/l (or 7.3 grains per gallon), which is considered moderately hard. If you receive water from the City's water system, softening devices are not required.
Water hardness is made up of dissolved calcium and magnesium. Customers may choose to install a water softener in there home to remove the water hardness. Water softening units, also called ion exchangers, remove calcium and magnesium ions from the water and replace them with sodium ions. A water softener requires the regular addition of salt to regenerate itself and work properly. This maintenance process can waste up to 1,300 litres of water per month.
While softened water is desirable for soap consumption and scale deposits, it is generally not recommended for drinking or cooking. This is due to the higher sodium content, decreased essential mineral content and potential for bacterial growth. If you are on a sodium-reduced diet, consult your physician about the advisability of drinking water softened by ion exchange.
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In City Central and City West fluoride is not added to the drinking water. However there is usually 0.15 mg/l of naturally occurring fluoride present in the drinking water. In City East (former Pittsburg Township), fluoride is added to the drinking water supply at 0.5 mg/l. Fluoride is added at the James St. booster station for CFB Kingston, as a requirement for the Department of National Defense, to prevent tooth decay.
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The City of Kingston draws it's water from Lake Ontario. Seasonally Lake Ontario has a natural, slightly "musty" odour which is caused by the growth of plants and algae in the lake. The purification process removes most of the natural odour and it is rarely detected in cold water but may be noticeable in warmer water especially to visitors accustomed to the taste and odour of their own drinking water.
If you are sensitive to this taste/odour, try keeping a jug of fresh, cold tap water in the refrigerator for drinking and cooking. Carbon filters can also be used to remove taste/odour, but must be carefully maintained.
If you notice a "swampy" or "sulphur" odour when using the bathroom faucets, it is likely caused by decaying hair, dirt or debris that is caught in the drain and releasing an odour when you run your water. To confirm this, fill a glass with cold water and take it immediately to another room in the house. If the water is odourless, the odour is coming from your drain. To correct the problem, pour a small amount of bleach down the drain. Wait a few minutes then run your cold water tap for a minute to flush the drain.
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Chlorine is used in the City of Kingston to disinfect the drinking water supplies. It is a strong oxidant that kills bacteria and viruses that are harmful to human health. A chlorine residual is necessary in the distribution system water to ensure the safety of the water to the furthest point in the system.
If you are sensitive to this taste/odour, try keeping a jug of fresh, cold tap water for drinking and cooking in the refrigerator with the lid off. This should reduce the chlorine taste and odour. Carbon filters can also be used to remove chlorine taste and odour, but must be carefully maintained.
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Some dishwashing detergents contain colourants. Over time these colourants can stain the plastic tub of the dishwasher giving it an orange appearance. To correct the problem, use a dishwashing detergent that does not contain colourants. Also consult your owner's manual for your dishwasher. In the troubleshooting section it will list this problem and recommended solutions.
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