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Document ID ca-gcdwqgtd-2014-02-05 Title Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – Turbidity URL https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-turbidity/page-2-guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-turbidity.html Jurisdiction /ca Subdomain(s) Drinking water, Water treatment Language en Status completed Analyzed at 2026-03-17 14:23:07.249305+00:00 Relevance Defines numeric turbidity limits for various water filtration technologies.
4 Qualitative 8 Quantitative 0 Definitions

Q Qualitative Requirements (4)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Context Conditions Confidence
#Q001corrective_actionoperationalrecommendedMembrane Unit Integrity Investigationdrinking waterMeasurements greater than 0.1 NTU for a period of greater than 15 minutes from an individual membrane unit should immediately trigger an investigation of the membrane unit integrity.When measurements are greater than 0.1 NTU for >15 minutes from an individual membrane unit.high
#Q002designtreatmentrecommendedFiltration System Design and Operation (ALARA)drinking waterThe aforementioned filtration systems should be designed and operated to reduce turbidity levels as low as reasonably achievable and strive to achieve a treated water turbidity target from individual filters of less than 0.1 NTU.Applies to filtration systems using conventional, direct, slow sand, diatomaceous earth, or membrane technologies.high
#Q003operationaltreatmentguidanceUnfiltered Systems Turbidity Exceptiondrinking waterFor systems that are not required to filter by the appropriate authority, a higher turbidity level may be considered acceptable, provided that it does not hinder disinfection.For systems that are not required to filter by the appropriate authority.high
#Q004operationaloperationalrecommendedDistribution System Entry Turbidity Recommendationdrinking waterTo ensure effectiveness of disinfection and for good operation of the distribution system, it is recommended that water entering the distribution system have turbidity levels of 1.0 NTU or less.Water entering the distribution system to ensure disinfection effectiveness and distribution system operation.high

P Quantitative Requirements (8)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Limit Type Limit Value Context Conditions Confidence
#P001physicaltreatmentrecommendedTurbidity - Conventional and direct filtration (95% limit)drinking watertreatment_goal<= 0.3 NTUin at least 95% of measurements either per filter cycle or per monthFor conventional and direct filtrationhigh
#P002physicaltreatmentrecommendedTurbidity - Conventional and direct filtration (maximum limit)drinking waterMAC<= 1.0 NTUnever to exceedFor conventional and direct filtrationhigh
#P003physicaltreatmentrecommendedTurbidity - Slow sand or diatomaceous earth filtration (95% limit)drinking watertreatment_goal<= 1.0 NTUin at least 95% of measurements either per filter cycle or per monthFor slow sand or diatomaceous earth filtrationhigh
#P004physicaltreatmentrecommendedTurbidity - Slow sand or diatomaceous earth filtration (maximum limit)drinking waterMAC<= 3.0 NTUnever to exceedFor slow sand or diatomaceous earth filtrationhigh
#P005physicaltreatmentrecommendedTurbidity - Membrane filtration (99% limit)drinking watertreatment_goal<= 0.1 NTUin at least 99% of measurements per operational filter period or per monthFor membrane filtrationhigh
#P006physicaloperationalrecommendedTurbidity - Membrane filtration investigation triggerdrinking waterOG> 0.1 NTUMeasurements greater than 0.1 NTU for a period of greater than 15 minutes from an individual membrane unit should immediately trigger an investigationFor membrane filtrationhigh
#P007physicaltreatmentrecommendedTurbidity - Treated water targetdrinking watertreatment_goal< 0.1 NTUstrive to achieve a treated water turbidity target from individual filters of less than 0.1 NTUFiltration systems should be designed and operated to reduce turbidity levels as low as reasonably achievablehigh
#P008physicaloperationalrecommendedTurbidity - Water entering distribution systemdrinking waterOG<= 1.0 NTUTo ensure effectiveness of disinfection and for good operation of the distribution systemwater entering the distribution systemhigh

D Definitions (0)

No definitions.