• The Stouffville and Ballantrae/Musselman’s Lake drinking water systems met all provincial standards in 2025.
  • No quality or supply concerns were identified in either system.
  • Chlorine and fluoride levels remained within allowable limits, and no harmful bacteria readings were noted.
  • One adverse reading was traced to operator error, with follow-up testing confirming normal conditions.
  • Sodium concentrations averaged 21.2 mg/L in Stouffville, nearly double Ballantrae’s 11.5 mg/L.
  • A 20 mg/L sodium guideline is suggested for those on sodium-restricted diets.
  • A Provincial inspection was conducted in February, with final results expected by June.

 

Stouffville’s municipal drinking water systems continued to meet provincial standards throughout 2025, with no immediate concerns identified. The findings are outlined in newly released annual reports and a Staff review presented to Council last week.

A March 11 Staff report confirms both the Stouffville and Ballantrae/Musselman’s Lake systems are operating effectively, with testing and flow assessments showing no issues related to water quality or supply. The systems are regulated under Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act, with oversight from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks.

Routine sampling across both systems detected no harmful bacteria readings such as E. coli or total coliforms. Chlorine, used as a disinfectant, remained below the Provincial maximum of 4 mg/L. In Stouffville, the highest recorded level was 2.16 mg/L, while Ballantrae/Musselman’s Lake peaked at 1.88 mg/L.

Fluoride concentrations were also low, measuring 0.61 mg/L in Stouffville and 0.07 mg/L in Ballantrae/Musselman’s Lake, both below the maximum acceptable concentration of 1.5 mg/L.

Trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, byproducts of chlorine disinfection, were recorded well below Provincial limits. These substances have been linked to increased cancer risk at elevated and sustained levels.

Testing also shows higher sodium levels in Stouffville’s system, which draws a portion of its water from shallower aquifers known to contain more dissolved minerals.

Sodium concentrations in Stouffville’s drinking water averaged 21.2 mg/L, compared to 11.5 mg/L in the Ballantrae/Musselman’s Lake system. While an aesthetic maximum of 200 mg/L is often referenced due to taste considerations, Health Canada does not set a maximum allowable concentration guideline for sodium.

Federal guidance notes that, although reducing sodium intake can lower blood pressure in individuals with hypertension, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that sodium in drinking water would cause the condition.

A suggested benchmark of 20 mg/L is intended to help ensure those on sodium-restricted diets do not consume excessive amounts through combined food and water intake. The guideline assumes drinking water should account for no more than 10 percent of daily sodium intake, applied to those limiting consumption to 500 mg per day.

Maintaining sodium concentrations below that level in municipal systems can be technically challenging and costly, the Health Canada website explains, particularly in areas where groundwater naturally contains higher mineral content.

The only reported adverse result during the 2025 monitoring period was attributed to human error rather than a water quality issue. A chlorine residual reading initially recorded below the provincial minimum was later found to have been entered incorrectly. Follow-up sampling the same day confirmed levels were within acceptable limits, and no further action was required.

The Town received approximately 114 water quality-related service requests between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025, down from 150 the previous year. None of the complaints required changes to operating procedures, according to internal meeting minutes from June 2025.

The same minutes reported 25 watermain breaks within the Stouffville system between January 2019 and May 2025, impacting more than 540 residents and nine businesses.

A Provincial inspection was conducted in early February, with final results expected by June. Staff noted that both systems received a 100 percent inspection rating and zero percent risk rating in the 2024 review.

Council approved the reports on consent during its March 11 meeting, with no discussion from members. “No one wants to talk about our drinking water?” Mayor Iain Lovatt asked. “We should, it’s really good news!”

Cover image taken by Janosch Lino