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Water Quality and Treatment
You may have questions about your water services, the quality of water, or the treatment process. You have come to the right place to answer any of your questions or to obtain more information.
Need help with a water service?
If you have any questions or problems with your water service, rates, water meter, water lines, or general inquiries, call 311 and let us help you.
Water Treatment
Where does our water come from?
The City of Lethbridge gets all of its water from the Oldman River. A river is considered a surface water supply. Lethbridge does not use groundwater from wells. Our Water Treatment Plant processes river water into safe, healthy drinking water. Find out more about the Water Treatment Plant in Lethbridge.
Quarterly Reports
Water quality is tested quarterly for a wide range of parameters that can be viewed in the water quality reports.
Consumer Confidence Reports
Cross connection controls (backflow valves)
It is necessary to fill out the following form to ensure compliance with Bylaw 3999.
What is watermain flushing?
If you notice a City crew operating a fire hydrant, flushing water down the street, they are actually cleaning the watermains in the area. Regular flushing is an important component of a comprehensive water management program. The City of Lethbridge is responsible for maintaining and operating 570 km of watermains and more pipe is added each year. Flushing the mains using water under pressure cleans out these pipes, along with the rest of the system. Flushing is generally done between April and October.
Why is the flushing water sometimes discoloured?
Potable water from the Water Treatment Plant is clear and virtually free of sediment. However, these miniscule amounts sediment can accumulate over time. Coupled with this, pipes made of metal such as cast iron can deteriorate and leave particles in the pipelines. UDF creates a velocity high enough to remove all of this material from the water mains.
Is discoloured water harmful to me?
If your tap water is discoloured or cloudy, it is recommended that you flush out your cold water line as indicated above. The water itself is safe to drink; nothing in it will harm you.
What are watermain breaks?
Watermain breaks happen when a pipe has a leak or breaks, affecting the water service to our homes and businesses. They may affect water pressure, or cause pooling of water in our streets and neighbourhoods. They are caused by various factors, including natural causes such as the age of pipes, temperatures, and materials.
On average, the City of Lethbridge repairs between 50 and 100 watermain breaks each year. Each break offers unique challenges, so we follow the process below so there is minimal disruption to residents and businesses while ensuring access to safe, clean drinking water.
How do I report a watermain break?
Our residents are our eyes and ears in the community. If you see water pooling on the streets or have a loss of water pressure in your home, please call 311.
What does a water meter do?
Water meters are an important part of your home's water supply and increase your control over your water bill. A properly working meter records the amount of water supplied to your home or business ensuring you only pay for the water you use.
Water meters measure and record the amount of water supplied to a home or business.
Where is my water meter located?
A water meter is located just above the main water shut-off valve in your home. This is usually in the basement and is located on a pipe that comes out of your basement floor.
Call 311 if you have any questions about your water meter.
Lead service lines were only used for a short time, before 1955 when copper was not readily available. The City of Lethbridge's data shows that it is uncommon to find a property or business built after 1955 that has lead service lines. Water provided by the City of Lethbridge contains very low levels of lead. Tests of our drinking water have consistently shown lead levels of less than 0.2 parts per billion, only 4% of the 5 parts per billion maximum acceptable limit.
Today, according to our records, there are approximately 200 homes in Lethbridge that may have lead service lines. When compared to the total number of over 34,000 connections in the City, this represents only 0.59% of homes receiving water service. In other words, according to our records, we would expect that over 99% of Lethbridge homes do not have lead water service lines. In July of 2020 letters are being mailed to all owners and occupants of properties that are suspected to have a lead service line. The City of Lethbridge's goal is to eliminate all lead service lines within the city by the end of 2022.
Watch the Lead and Water Service Lines video to learn more.
Contact Us
City Hall
910 4 Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 0P6
Phone: 311
or 403-320-3111 (if outside of Lethbridge)