LET’S MAKE SENSE OF YOUR WATER!
Canal Winchester Water Quality Report
Population Served: 10,000+
Primary Water Source: Groundwater wells from the local aquifer
Source: City of Canal Winchester Consumer Confidence Report
DID YOU KNOW water quality reports, also known as “Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs),” are annual documents that all public water systems are required to provide to you via mail and online. These reports are supposed to provide important information about the quality of the drinking water delivered over the previous year.
They can be difficult to read or understand. They are often many pages long and contain complex tables and charts. Culligan Water wants to change this and help you MAKE SENSE OF YOUR WATER.
This easy-to-read report will provide you with the following:
- Items of interest: Common water issues discussed within your community.
- Potential concerns: Unregulated contaminants that could be a health concern to you or your family.
- Water hardness: The current level of hard water in your area.
The Water Quality Report Legend:
- Health Concern Contaminants that have known health effects that the EPA regulates to protect public health.
- Aesthetic Issue Not necessarily a health risk but can affect your water’s appearance, taste, or odor.
- Unregulated Possible health risk but NO standards set by the EPA. Emerging chemicals and compounds the EPA is gathering data on.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant that triggers additional action.
Public Health Goal (PHG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water that doesn’t pose a significant risk to health. PHG’s are NOT regulatory standards, and may not be attainable due to current remediation technologies.
ppm: parts per million (μg/L)
ppm: parts per billion (mg/L)
A Summary Of The Canal Winchester Water Quality Report
1) Infrastructure & Water System Overview
Canal Winchester’s Division of Water operates a 2.0 million gallon per day ion exchange softening plant, along with the Leiberman Well Field and High Street Well Field. Together, these facilities produced approximately 321 million gallons of drinking water.
The city also maintains emergency water connections with Pickerington and Lithopolis, although neither connection was needed during the reporting year.
2) Water Sources and Usage
Canal Winchester’s drinking water comes entirely from groundwater wells.
Because groundwater naturally filters through soil and rock before reaching the wells, it generally contains fewer surface-water contaminants. The city continuously monitors the aquifer for potential contamination and maintains a source water protection plan to safeguard the water supply.
3) Disinfection and Water Treatment
Before reaching your tap, Canal Winchester water is treated using an ion exchange softening process and disinfected with chlorine to help eliminate harmful microorganisms. The city’s treatment process is designed to:
- Reduce water hardness
- Control bacteria and viruses
- Meet all federal and Ohio drinking water regulations
4) Minerals and Water Quality Highlights
Testing found several naturally occurring minerals and treatment additives in Canal Winchester’s drinking water.
- Fluoride: 0.99 ppm
- Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs): 23.7 ppm
- Chlorine: 1.21 ppm
- Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): 3.8 ppb
Because the city softens its groundwater before distribution, residents generally experience much lower hardness than many neighboring communities.
Items of Interest
Common Tap Water Issues in Canal Winchester
Although Canal Winchester’s water meets all federal drinking water standards, some common treatment-related substances remain in finished drinking water.
Chlorine
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 4.0
Public Health Goal: N/A
Concerns: Poor Taste and Smell
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Fluoride
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 10
Public Health Goal: 10
Concerns: High concentrations may contribute to dental fluorosis
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Arsenic
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 10
Public Health Goal: 0
Concerns: Long-term exposure at elevated levels may increase certain health risks
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Potential Concerns
Explore Unregulated Contaminants in Canal Winchester Water
Disinfection byproducts are created whenever chlorine is used to disinfect drinking water. Canal Winchester’s results remain well below EPA limits.
HAA5
EPA Max. Contaminant Level (MCL): 60
Public Health Goal: 0
Concerns: Cancer
Removal: Water Softeners, Whole House Water Filters
TTHM
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 80
Public Health Goal: 0
Concerns: Cancer
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Hardness Concerns
Does Canal Winchester Have Hard Water?
Canal Winchester treats its groundwater using an ion exchange softening plant, significantly reducing hardness before the water reaches homes and businesses. Unlike many Ohio communities, the city’s treatment process is specifically designed to minimize mineral buildup and improve overall water quality.
Even with municipal softening, some homeowners may still choose additional treatment to further reduce spotting or improve appliance performance.
Forever Chemicals
PFAS Contaminants in Canal Winchester
As part of EPA’s latest PFAS monitoring requirements, Canal Winchester completed additional testing for the six regulated PFAS compounds, including PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, and HFPO-DA (GenX).
All PFAS samples were reported as non-detect, meaning none of the regulated PFAS compounds were detected in the city’s finished drinking water during testing.
PFAS
Public Health Goal: Varies
Concerns: Potential Longterm Exposure, Cancer, Emerging Contaminants
Removal: Water Softeners, Whole House Water Filters
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