How is drinking water tested for quality?
To ensure our drinking water is clean and safe for consumption, an extensive list of water quality parameters is tested. The source waters are monitored by Metro Vancouver for turbidity, pH, micro organisms (bacteria, giardia and cryptosporidium), volatile organic compounds, disinfection by-products, herbicides, pesticides, radioisotopes, and metals. In the water distribution system, the City of Vancouver monitors temperature, pH, turbidity, chlorine residuals, micro organisms (bacteria, including e-coli), disinfection by-products and metals. The physical and chemical properties are tested directly at each of the 52 sampling stations, whereas the microbiological samples collected at each site are submitted to the BC Centre for Disease Control for analysis.
