Water Filtration System Installation & Rental: Whole-House Filtration, Reverse Osmosis, Water Softeners & More

The Standing Committee on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management is an Ottawa committee that deals with water and waste management. According to them, Ottawa meets the standards that they’ve set for high-quality tap water.

Their standards are based on whether or not the amount of contaminants in the water is acceptable.

If you’re not comfortable relying on someone else’s opinion regarding how much contamination is acceptable or you’re concerned about the possibility of contamination after water treatment, you’ve come to the right place because John The Plumber is your local water filtration expert.

We offer a variety of equipment and installation services to increase the quality of your tap water and reduce you and your family’s exposure to contaminants like lead, chlorine, bacteria, fluoride, sulfur, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, and more!

Depending on your wants and needs, there are several water filtration options to choose from. Read below for a brief description of some popular water treatment systems in Ottawa.

Tap Water From The Ottawa River

Ottawa’s water is considered soft, which means there are few parts per million of dissolved solids in the water. That’s good!

However, the Ottawa webpage that discusses Ottawa water admits that some strange odours in the water are due to trace levels of organic substances in the water source that aren’t completely filtered out.

The reality is that not everything can be completely filtered out. Additionally, chemicals are added to the water to prevent the growth of organic matter that would be unhealthy for us to drink. But, what is unhealthy for one lifeform is often not very healthy for us. And, while it is in a low enough dosage that the city’s Medical Officer of Health is satisfied, too much of anything must add up eventually.

All this to say, while we’re extremely lucky to have an abundance of acceptably healthy water, why not improve it if we can?

What Water Treatment Chemicals Are Used In Ottawa?

Some of the chemicals used for water treatment in Ottawa include Aluminum sulphate, Sulphuric acid, Sodium silicate, Sodium hypochlorite, Hydrofluorsicic acid, Sodium bisulphite, Sodium hydroxide, Aqueous ammonia, etc.

What substances can be found in Ottawa public tap water?

Some substances that could be found in Ottawa tap water include chlorine, fluoride, turbidity, barium, boron, chromium, sodium, nitrate, haloacetic acids, trihalomethanes, chloramine, etc.

To be fair, the results of many water tests are deemed acceptable by The Medical Officer of Health and Ottawa Public Health.

Do I Need A Home Water Filter?

If you’re asking whether or not you can live off the Ottawa water supply without a water filter, then yes. You can drink Ottawa water and you won’t die tomorrow of poison.

However, we are what we put into our bodies. New molecules are often being found in the human body that science didn’t previously know about. For example, microplastics were found in human blood for the first time in March 2022.

We’re constantly learning about the consequences of what we consume. Today, the health committee says that our drinking water is acceptable. But, tomorrow it might have a different opinion.

At the end of the day, with modern water filtration available at the prices they’re available for, I would recommend the upgrade if this is something that you’re concerned about.

Most of the plumbers at John The Plumber use home water filtration so they can enjoy great tasting water, clean water, less contaminants, and less worries about the future consequences of chemical consumption today.

How Often Should I Change My Water Filter?

How often you need to change your water filter depends on the water filter model, how much water you drink, and how clean the water is to begin with.

RO filters should ideally be replaced every year or more to ensure that it remains successful at cleaning your water.

However, if you notice that your water is beginning to seem a little off, listen to your gut! But, also make sure that you replace your filter at least as often as your instruction manual advises!