The City of Delta last year provided drinking water in compliance with the BC Drinking Water Protection Act and the BC Drinking Water Protection Regulation.
A 2023 drinking quality report to council notes that staff conducted approximately 1,266 water sample tests from Delta's drinking water distribution system, which were obtained from 34 sampling stations.
Samples were tested on-site for temperature, turbidity and chlorine residual, while an additional sample was sent to Metro Vancouver’s laboratory where it was tested for turbidity, chlorine residual, heterotrophic plate counts, total coliform bacteria and E.coli.
Test were also done for metals, vinyl chloride and disinfection by-products at several sampling sites.
There are currently approximately 76 km of asbestos cement pipe being used in the municipal water system, but the city does not test for asbestos in the drinking water.
The report also notes there was one sample that was accidentally contaminated during the sampling process which resulted in a positive test for E.coli.
Fraser Health was notified and resampling was immediately undertaken. The follow-up samples were clear and provided confirmation that the drinking water met all regulatory requirements and was safe for consumption.
Detailed physical and chemical analyses were also performed on the artesian well water sourced from Watershed Park.
The engineering department two years ago undertook a project to introduce water from water wells at Watershed Park into the regular distribution system for part of the city to help offset the rising cost of purchasing water from Metro Vancouver.
Meanwhile, according to a recent report to Metro Vancouver’s Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD), which outlined the 2023 GVWD Water Quality Annual Report, the regional drinking water supply met or exceeded the provincial water quality regulations and the federal Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
