Brampton Water Quality: Is It Safe to Drink the Tap Water in Ontario?

Where Does Brampton’s Drinking Water Come From?

The City of Brampton gets its drinking water from Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes. According to the 2023 South Peel annual water quality report, the Peel Region operates the distribution system, while the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) runs the pumps, water storage, and water treatment facilities on Lake Ontario.

Since both cities get their water through the same distribution system, Brampton and Mississauga water quality are relatively the same.

Some parts of the Peel Region rely on groundwater wells, but these are more common in Caledon rather than in Brampton or Mississauga. If you do have a private well, you’ll need to maintain it yourself and conduct your own water quality testing.

How Clean Is Brampton’s Water Supply?

Since Lake Ontario is fed by the Niagara River and the lake is used for everything from commercial fishing to recreation, it’s natural to wonder about Brampton’s water quality. Like any surface water source, Brampton’s water supply needs to be protected from multiple sources of pollution to ensure it’s safe for residents to drink.

Brampton’s water supply is protected by Canada’s Clean Water Act and local source water protection protection plans. These plans are intended to “address 22 activities identified by the province as threats to the quality and quantity of municipal drinking water sources,” such as fertilizer runoff and sewage discharge.

Residents are encouraged to store oil and fuel properly, maintain their septic systems, and avoid using excess amounts of salt during the winter.

How Is Brampton’s Drinking Water Treated?

The City of Brampton gets its water from one of two water treatment plants: the Arthur P. Kennedy WTP and Lorne Park WTP. The two plants use a combination of conventional water treatment methods, UV disinfection, and advanced active carbon filtration.

Some of Brampton’s tap water goes through the following treatment process:

• Before the water is pumped into the plant, it’s treated with chlorine to control zebra mussels, an invasive species found in Lake Ontario
• Next, it’s filtered through screens to remove large debris, such as plant matter
• Coagulation and flocculation are used to cause smaller particles to clump together, so they can settle to the bottom of a sedimentation basin
• Then, it passes through an anthracite filter to physically remove contaminants, before chlorine and fluoride are added as a public health measure
• Finally, it passes through a UV filter to kill viruses and bacteria

Some of the water goes through a slightly different treatment process known as ozone, biologically active carbon, and membrane (OBM) treatment. This involves using:

• Ozone to kill pathogens and improve the water’s taste
• Biologically active carbon (BAC) filters to remove contaminants
• Membrane treatment to reduce the turbidity, or cloudiness, of the water

Is Brampton’s Tap Water Hard or Soft?

Water hardness refers to the amount of mineral content in your drinking water. Hard water has higher levels of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, than soft water. Although hard water isn’t a health risk, it can leave a filmy residue on hair and skin, as well as limescale buildup on cookware and kitchen surfaces.

Brampton has moderately hard water, so you don’t have to do anything about it if it doesn’t bother you. If it does, you can install a water softener to remove dissolved minerals from your tap water and improve its taste and appearance.

What Contaminants Does Brampton Tap Water Contain?

Brampton’s water quality meets the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t contain any contaminants. Some of these contaminants come from industrial and agricultural pollution, while others are disinfection byproducts that form when the source water is treated with chlorine and other chemicals.

Here are three categories of contaminants that impact Brampton water quality:

Agricultural runoff

Nitrate and nitrite are harmful chemicals that get into the water supply from agricultural sources, such as fertilizer. Since Brampton’s water supply is close to farming regions, these open water sources can pick up agricultural pollutants along the way.

When consumed in large amounts or over time, high nitrate and nitrite levels increase the risk of cancer and can cause harm to babies and fetuses.

The Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) for nitrate in Canada is 10 parts per million (ppm) and 1 ppm for nitrite. Brampton’s levels are within the limit, but exceed the recommendation of public health organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which supports a maximum contaminant level of 0.14 ppm.

Disinfection byproducts

Disinfection byproducts are formed during the water treatment process due to chemical additives like chlorine. Although disinfection is necessary to provide safe drinking water to customers, excessive disinfection can cause problems of its own.

For example, the Peel Region’s 2023 water quality report shows trihalomethane levels of 27.6 parts per billion (ppb). This is below the Maximum Acceptable Concentration of 80 ppb, but higher than the EWG’s public health recommendation: 0.15 ppb.

Since trihalomethanes (THMs) can increase the risk of cancer, Brampton residents may want to choose a home water filter that can reduce their exposure to THMs and other disinfection byproducts like haloacetic acids (HAAs).

Forever chemicals (PFAS)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are also known as forever chemicals due to their ability to persist in the environment over time. Experts are concerned about the presence of PFAS in drinking water and its impact on human health, but there are few regulations setting out testing requirements or maximum contaminant levels.

According to a recent report on forever chemicals, the Region of Peel has been testing water samples for PFAS since 2020. Although PFAS has been found, the test results show levels that are “below Health Canada’s proposed total PFAS limit.” Still, more research is needed to determine whether these levels are truly safe.

Depending on your level of concern, you may want to install an activated carbon or reverse osmosis filter, both of which are proven to reduce PFAS levels.

Does Brampton’s Tap Water Contain Lead?

Residents of the Peel Region are at low risk of lead poisoning. The 2023 water quality report notes that “Peel’s water supply is consistently below Ontario’s lead standard of 0.01 mg/L,” and the Community Lead Testing Program is an ongoing initiative to find and address any remaining sources of lead exposure in the region.

Homes built before 1960 are most at risk, while homes built after this date could still have lead piping or solder if it hasn’t been replaced. Residents who think they might have lead pipes can request a free test to check their tap water for lead.

You can also protect yourself by using a 4-Stage Reverse Osmosis Under Counter Water Filter or another home water filter that’s certified to remote lead.

How Is Brampton’s Wastewater Treated?

The Peel Region doesn’t just treat its drinking water. It also treats its wastewater before releasing it into the environment. This is important because untreated wastewater could make its way into the water supply and contaminate it with E. coli and other pathogens that cause waterborne diseases.

The Ontario Clean Water Agency operates wastewater treatment plants that process up to 660 gallons of wastewater per day before releasing it into Lake Ontario.

The Wastewater By-Law also restricts businesses from discharging waste into storm drains or sewage systems, further protecting Brampton’s water quality.

Can You Swim in Lake Ontario?

Lake Ontario is popular with boaters and swimmers, but during certain times of year it can be unsafe for swimming due to bacteria. You should avoid swimming for two days after heavy rainfall, which could carry pathogens into the water.

Peel Public Health will also let you know if there’s an issue. It tests the water weekly at four public beaches throughout the summer, and will post a Blue Notice, Red Warning Sign, or Water Quality Advisory Sign if there’s blue-green algae or bacteria.

Which Water Filters Will Improve Brampton’s Water Quality?

Brampton’s tap water comes directly from Lake Ontario, the same source that supplies Mississauga and South Caledon. Although the Region of Peel conducts regular water quality testing and uses a high-quality water treatment process, some contaminants may get through to your tap and reduce its taste or quality.

In particular, Brampton residents should be alert to the presence of agricultural runoff, disinfection byproducts, and forever chemicals. You may also want to install a water softener to remove dissolved minerals and prevent limescale buildup.

Home water filters, especially activated carbon and reverse osmosis filters, can improve the taste of your water and remove common contaminants. Be sure to check the NSF rating to make sure it’s certified to remove the contaminants you’re worried about.

Choose the UPSTREAM™ 4-Stage Whole Home Water Filter to remove the majority of contaminants, or take our filter quiz to find out which water filter is right for you.