Home water treatment systems unnecessary for safe municipally supplied drinking water

NEWMARKET – In recent weeks, a number of Georgina and East Gwillimbury residents have contacted The Regional Municipality of York regarding door-to-door sales of a home water treatment system.   Sales representatives perform “tests” on the resident’s tap water and claim the Region’s drinking water  contains impurities, trying to convince residents to purchase expensive water systems they claim will improve their drinking water.

York Region’s drinking water is tested weekly and key water quality parameters, such as chlorine residual and turbidity, are tested continuously.  Results from the Ministry of the Environment inspections demonstrate York Region has met or surpassed standards for drinking water quality on an annual basis.

“The Province of Ontario has extremely stringent drinking water standards and The Regional Municipality of York’s drinking water supply earns top marks from the Ministry of the Environment,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. “Some sales representatives are using scare tactics in order to convince homeowners to purchase expensive drinking water treatment systems that are not necessary.”

The Town of Georgina receives its water supply from Lake Simcoe and municipalities within East Gwillimbury receive water from ground water sources. As with all drinking water, York Region, registered to an ISO 9001 quality management system standard, ensures the highest degree of water treatment and distribution to its homes and businesses. 

Suggested impurities demonstrated during the door-to-door testing are strictly aesthetic in nature and relate to materials such as iron, which are present in groundwater and are also a required daily nutrient. They are unrelated to the quality of drinking water.

York Region’s water supply comes from two sources – ground water and surface water. The municipalities of Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan receive treated water from Lake Ontario, while municipal wells supply the communities of Newmarket, Holland Landing, Sharon, Queensville, Mount Albert, King City, Nobleton, Schomberg, Stouffville, Ballantrae/Musselman Lake and Kleinburg. The Town of Aurora has a blended supply of wells and lake water.

York Region residents with questions regarding their drinking water
can call 1-877 464-9675.