Drinking Water

Municipal drinking water goes through several treatment processes to ensure it is safe to drink.

Treatment steps include:

1. Screening to remove debris such as plants and sediment
2. Clarification to remove particles from the water
3. Filtration to remove fine materials and improve taste and odour
4. Disinfection using chlorine to eliminate harmful microorganisms

Fluoride is also added in small amounts to support dental health.

Interested in learning more? Take a virtual tour of our Water Treatment Plant.

The city operates its drinking water systems under strict provincial regulations to protect public health.

Belleville maintains a Drinking Water Quality Management System in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Drinking Water Quality Management Standard.

This system ensures that:

• drinking water is regularly tested and monitored
• treatment facilities are operated by certified staff
• procedures are in place to maintain system reliability
• annual external audits verify compliance with provincial standards

Annual and Summary Reports

Under the Ontario Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O. Reg. 170/03), municipalities that operate drinking water systems must prepare annual and summary reports on system operations and drinking water quality.

Reports for the Belleville and Point Anne drinking water systems are available below:

• 2021 Annual and Summary Water Quality Report
• 2022 Annual and Summary Water Quality Report
• 2023 Annual and Summary Water Quality Report
• 2024 Annual and Summary Water Quality Report
• 2025 Annual and Summary Water Quality Report

Printed copies are available at the City of Belleville Operations Centre, 31 Wallbridge Cres.

Water Financial Plan

Following recommendations from the Walkerton Inquiry, municipalities are also required to prepare long-term financial plans for their drinking water systems.

Under the Ontario Financial Plans Regulation (O. Reg. 453/07), municipalities must develop and maintain financial plans to support the sustainability of their drinking water systems.

• 2025 City of Belleville Water Financial Plan

Cloudy or milky water is usually caused by tiny air bubbles trapped in the water. This is harmless and very common after cold weather or any work on a nearby water main.

Fill a clear glass and let it sit for 1–2 minutes. If the cloudiness rises from the bottom and clears up, it’s just air and completely safe to drink.

Tip: If the water stays cloudy after a few minutes or has an unusual smell, call us to report it.

Discoloured water is typically caused by sediment or iron being disturbed in the water mains. This often happens after a water main break, nearby hydrant flushing, construction work or a sudden change in water flow direction.

Run your cold tap for 5–10 minutes until it clears. Avoid doing laundry until the water runs clear, as sediment can stain fabrics.

Do not use the hot water faucet since this will draw discoloured water into your hot water heater/tank, which could make the problem worse.

Note: Do not use discoloured water for cooking or drinking until it clears. If it does not clear after 15 minutes of running the tap, please call us.

Particles in your water can come from a few sources. Black flecks may be from deteriorating rubber gaskets or fittings inside older plumbing or appliances in your home. Brown or sandy particles may be sediment stirred up from the water main.

Check if the particles appear at all taps or just one. If it’s only one tap, the issue is likely a fixture or internal fitting in that area. If all taps are affected, please report it to us by calling 613-967-3275 or emailing opgeneral@belleville.ca. 

Chlorine is added to drinking water as a disinfectant to keep it safe from bacteria. The amount used is carefully controlled to meet Ontario’s drinking water regulations and standards.

Chlorine taste or smell can be more noticeable depending on where you live in the distribution system, seasonal water temperature changes and recent flushing in your area.

Tip: Fill a pitcher of water and let it sit uncovered in the fridge for an hour — the chlorine taste typically dissipates on its own.

A rotten egg smell is caused by hydrogen sulphide gas. If the smell only comes from your hot water, the source is likely your hot water heater — bacteria can grow in tanks set to a low temperature. Try flushing your hot water tank or raising the temperature to 60°C (140°F).

If the smell comes from both hot and cold taps, please report it to us right away so we can investigate the distribution system. Call 613-967-3275 or email opgeneral@belleville.ca.

Note: A sulphur smell from cold water only is uncommon and should be reported to us immediately.

A musty or earthy smell can occur seasonally due to natural algae in the source water (the Bay of Quinte). The compounds responsible — geosmin and methylisoborneol — are completely harmless but can be detected even at very low concentrations.

Our treatment plant monitors and addresses this during seasonal peaks. The smell does not mean the water is unsafe to drink.

Taste can vary with the seasons as source water chemistry naturally changes throughout the year. Treatment adjustments, local main flushing and changes in your household plumbing can also affect taste.

If the change is sudden, strong, or accompanied by a colour change, please contact us so we can investigate. Call 613-967-3275 or email opgeneral@belleville.ca.

First, check whether the issue affects all taps or just one. Low pressure at a single tap often means a blocked aerator screen — unscrew the tip of the faucet, clean or replace the small mesh screen and reattach it.

If low pressure is throughout your home, it may be related to a water softener issue, put the unit in bypass and see if any change in pressure.

If not, it could be a water main break or repair in your area. Call us to see if there is a known issue nearby. Call 613-967-3275 or email opgeneral@belleville.ca.

Note: Consistently low pressure throughout your home may also indicate a partially closed shut-off valve, a failing pressure regulator or a leak on your service line.

Start by checking that your main shut-off valve (usually near the water meter in your basement) is fully open. If it is, check with a neighbour to see if they are also affected.

A complete loss of service in your area is usually related to a water main break or emergency repair. Call us to report the outage and we can confirm if there is active work in your neighbourhood. Call 613-967-3275 or email opgeneral@belleville.ca.

A boil water advisory is issued when there is a potential risk of harmful bacteria or other contaminants in the drinking water supply. It may be issued after a water main break, loss of system pressure or if water quality testing shows a concern.

During an advisory, bring all drinking water, ice-making water and water used for preparing food, brushing teeth or baby formula to a full rolling boil for at least one full minute before use.

Note: Do not use water filters, tablets or UV lamps as a substitute during a boil water advisory unless specifically directed to do so by public health.

The City of Belleville and Southeast Public Health will issue notices through the City's website, local media, social media and door-to-door notification where possible.

Sign up for the City’s emergency notification service to receive alerts directly to your phone or email. You can register online through the Belleville Alerts registration form.

Water produced at the City’s drinking water treatment plants does not contain lead. 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
• water pipes in older homes

As these items corrode and breakdown, lead can enter drinking water. The City monitors lead by collecting samples at various locations in the distribution system. Historical sample results show lead concentrations are well below regulatory limits.

If you live in an older home and are concerned, you can run your tap for 1–2 minutes before using the water, especially if the tap has not been used for several hours. To determine if you have lead in your plumbing system, consult a licensed plumber or consider having your tap water tested for lead.  A list of commercial licensed laboratories that test for lead in drinking water can be found on the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ website.

The City of Belleville maintains and upgrades the public water, wastewater and stormwater systems located within the municipal right-of-way, including water and sewer mains, storm sewers, ditches and culverts.

As a property owner, you are responsible for maintaining the water and wastewater infrastructure located on your property, including service laterals. Service laterals are underground pipes that connect your home or building to the municipal system.

• Water Lateral – Carries water from the main in the street to inside your house. Water use is measured by your water meter and used to calculate your bill.
• Wastewater Lateral – Carries wastewater from your home to the municipal sewer system, including wastewater from toilets, sinks, showers, bathtubs, dishwashers and washing machines.

Property owners are responsible for understanding where their property line is located and ensuring their private water and wastewater systems are properly maintained. This includes preventing pollutants, cross-connections and unwanted stormwater or groundwater from entering the wastewater system.