Water Quality

The City of St. John’s follows the Standards for Bacteriological Quality of Drinking Water as provided by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's Department of Environment and Conservation, as well as the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality prepared by Health Canada.  Meeting these standards and use of these guidelines reduces the risk of illnesses that may be attributed to public water supplies. 

 Water Quality Problems
There are a number of reasons why a residence may experience problems with water quality. They include:

• Hydrant use in the area.
• Cast iron pipe deposits of rust.
• Construction activities.
• Old galvanized pipes in the residence.
• Possible water main break.
• Normal seasonal variation in water quality.
• Different water quality characteristics of the three different sources of water to the City.
• Possibility of well contamination (unserviced areas).

If you are experiencing discoloured water, please run your water for 10 to 15 minutes, using a fixture that has an overflow release (i.e. bath tub).

If you continue to experience discoloured water, or believe your well has been contaminated, please call Access St. John's at 311 or (709) 754-CITY (2489).

For additional help, contact information or to submit a request visit Access 311.