Explore the Water Treatment Plant

Water Distribution 

Water distribution pipes deliver water into buildings and consist of two parts that are separated by a valve called a “curb stop:

1. The Town side that runs from the watermain on the street to the property line. 
2. The private side that runs from property line into the building, including internal plumbing. This part is the responsibility of the property owner.

If you have an issue with your water service, please contact the Public Works & Utilities Department at 613-283-4124 Ext. 3302 or erichardson@smithsfalls.ca. The Town will complete an on-site assessment. 

If you need to repair or replace your water service you must have an approved building permit. For more information please contact the Building Department at 613-283-4124 Ext. 1132 or visit Building and Renovating.

Lead Water Services

Lead can be found in:

• water service pipes in homes built before the mid 1950s
• solder used to join pipes together before 1990
• leaded-brass fixtures such as faucets and valves

In 1989, the Ontario Building Code was amended to ban lead piping and the use of lead solder.

If you would like to have your water sampled free of charge or are planning to replace the privately owned section of lead water service on your property, please contact the Public Works & Utilities Department at 613-283-4124 Ext. 3302 or erichardson@smithsfalls.ca for more information.

Protect Your Pipes From Freezing

Here are some tips for protecting your pipes:

• Know where to find your main shut-off valve and how it works in the event your pipes freeze and burst. There is usually a water shut-off valve just before or after your water meter.
• Keep rooms with water pipes warm, above 8°C, especially near the water meter.
• Insulate pipes that are most likely to freeze, especially near outside walls and crawl spaces.
• Keep garage doors closed if there are water pipes in the garage.
• Open kitchen, bathroom, and laundry cabinet doors to let warm air reach ground floor pipes.
• Outdoor taps freeze first. Take off any hoses, turn off the outdoor water supply, and let the taps drain.
• For added protection, you can leave a small stream of water running to keep water moving in your home's internal pipes. Run cold water from the lowest point in your house, like a laundry sink or tub. Make sure the drain is kept clear, so it doesn’t overflow. Keep in mind that you will be charged for the water if you use this method.
• Eligible homeowners can opt for Service Line Warranties of Canada's exterior and interior plans, which cover frozen pipe emergencies. 

For additional information on these risks please contact the Public Works & Utilities Department at 613-283-4124 Ext. 3302 or erichardson@smithsfalls.ca.

Cloudy Water

During colder months, when the temperature drops, you might notice cloudy water when you first turn on your tap. This happens because tiny air bubbles form as the oxygen in the water comes out. If you wait a few minutes, the cloudiness will go away, and the water will become clear. This is caused by changes in the water temperature as it moves from the street to your home’s pipes.

Drinking Water Quality Management System

The Town of Smiths Falls implemented a Drinking Water Quality Management System following the direction of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) as it is mandated through the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

Please contact the Town's Water and Wastewater Compliance Coordinator, Sarah Cooke at 613-283-4124 Ext. 5502 or scooke@smithsfalls.ca , if you have questions or would like to view the Operational Plan.

Source Water Protection 

Drinking water source protection safeguards public health by protecting the municipal drinking water supply from contaminants like sewage, fuel and chemicals. If water sources become contaminated, treatment can be much more expensive or even impossible.

Ontario’s Clean Water Act provides the legislative framework for Source Protection in Ontario. It ensures communities prevent contamination of their municipal drinking water supplies by developing collaborative, watershed-based source protection plans that are locally driven and based on science.

In the Town of Smiths Falls, the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan applies and has been in effect since 2015. The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan contains policies to protect our current and future drinking water supplies from threats of contamination or overuse.  Municipal drinking water can come from groundwater wells that draw water from underground aquifers, or surface water, which draws water from lakes and rivers. Source protection policies related to significant drinking water threats only apply in designated drinking water protection zones. These vulnerable areas are also known as Intake Protection Zones (IPZ) and Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPA).  Different policies apply to different parts of the IPZ or WHPA because certain areas are more vulnerable to contamination.

Do I live in a drinking water protection zone?

Use this interactive map to determine if your home or business is located in a drinking water protection zone. If you live in a drinking water protection zone, you’re encouraged to take easy steps to protect drinking water for yourself and your neighbours.

Depending on your property’s location and land uses, you may also be required to follow a prescribed risk management plan for your property or subject to additional protective restrictions. 

How were Drinking Water Protection Zones determined?

Drinking water protection zones have been determined through a series of technical studies completed by the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region. These studies identified municipal drinking water sources, areas vulnerable to contamination and what the potential sources of contamination might be.  The results of those technical studies were used to direct source protection policy decisions and determine the areas where policies apply.

What are drinking water threats?

Under certain circumstances, the following can be significant threats to our drinking water, as prescribed under the Clean Water Act, 2006:

• Manure, bio-solids, and livestock
• Fuel and oil
• Commercial fertilizer and pesticides
• Road salt and snow storage
• Chemicals and organic solvents
• Aquaculture
• Oil or gas pipelines
• Waste disposal sites
• Septic systems
• Sewage treatment plants and sewers

How does the source protection plan address threats to drinking water?

The goal of the Source Protection Plan is to work with property owners to manage or eliminate activities that are or could become significant threats to drinking water sources. In most cases, property owners can reduce the risk and allow the activity to continue with mitigation in place. The Clean Water Act provides several tools to accomplish this, such as education and outreach, risk management plans and changes to municipal land use planning documents. Often a combination of tools works best.

Who is responsible for implementing and enforcing the Source Protection Plan?

Provincial Ministries, Conservation Authorities, and Municipalities all have different responsibilities for implementing Source Protection Plans. Municipalities have the primary responsibility to implement and enforce policies locally to manage drinking water threats and to implement planning and restricted land use policies.

Who can I contact for more information?

Marika Livingston, Project Manager
Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority Office
3889 Rideau Valley Drive, P.O. Box 599
Manotick, ON K4M 1A5
613-692-3571 x 1148
Toll Free: 1-800-267-3504
Email: marika.livingston@mrsourcewater.ca
Website: https://www.mrsourcewater.ca/en

Sarah E. Cooke
Water & Wastewater Compliance Coordinator
Town of Smiths Falls – Public Works & Utilities
Phone: 613-283-4124 ext.5502
Email: scooke@smithsfalls.ca