WATER QUALITY ADVISORY - DECEMBER 19, 2025
Issued by the Medical Officer of Health, Manitoba Health, and the Office of Drinking Water, Manitoba Environment and Climate Change
- December 19, 2025 -
On October 17, 2025, a precautionary Water Quality Advisory was issued prior to the Town of Virden bringing on-line a new water supply within an aquifer in which previous testing and historical data indicated levels of arsenic exceeding the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines. Subsequent testing has shown arsenic levels range from 0.0243 to 0.0256 milligrams per litre (mg/L), confirming that the arsenic level is above the Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guideline of 0.010 mg/L.
The arsenic guideline is based on lifetime exposure (70 years). Drinking this water over long periods of time can slightly increase cancer risk. It is beneficial to try to keep arsenic levels in drinking water as low as possible.
As testing has confirmed that arsenic levels in the Virden public water system exceed Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines, the Water Quality Advisory remains in effect and has now been updated so that water users are aware of the risk and can take action to reduce these risks.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
If this is your primary drinking water source, you may wish to reduce the amount of water that you consume from this source. Options include using an alternative water source such as bottled water for drinking, preparing food or beverages, including ice and infant formula.
Boiling the water will NOT reduce the amount of arsenic in the water and may potentially increase the concentration of arsenic in the water very slightly. Since exposure is mainly through consuming the water, you can continue to use the water for all other domestic purposes including general cleaning, hand washing, bathing, laundry, washing dishes, etc.
DURATION:
The water quality advisory will continue to remain in effect until arsenic levels in the treated water are below the guideline limit; you will be notified when this occurs. The Office of Drinking Water will continue to work closely with the Virden water system as they move forward with investigating solutions to lower the arsenic levels in the treated water.
For more information on arsenic in drinking water supplies, please refer to the Manitoba “Arsenic in Manitoba Water Supplies” fact sheet at the link below. www.manitoba.ca/drinkingwater or www.gov.mb.ca/sd/pubs/water/drinking_water/factsheet_arsenic.pdf.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Town of Virden water system at 204-748-2440 or the Regional Drinking Water Officer at 204-724-0685 or Health Links at 204-788-8200 (toll free at 1-888-315-9257).
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UPDATE #3 ON WATER CONSERVATION NOTICE &
THE TOWN OF VIRDEN PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
- December 18, 2025 -
The new Production Well No. 3 that was drilled in early November, was put into production the week of November 10, 2025. During the week of November 24, 2025, Friesen Drillers Ltd. performed an investigation on Production Well No. 2, which indicated a critical need to have upgrades completed on that well, to ensure an adequate water supply to the Town. Those works were completed immediately following the investigation.
A water testing schedule was put in place with all analytical being shared with the Office of Drinking Water and the Medical Officer of Health for review. This series of samples have confirmed that without any process changes, the current treatment system is achieving nearly 50% removal of arsenic from the raw water. There is still room for improvement though, and our engineer is working to determine system upgrades which will further optimize the arsenic removal. The upgrade proposal will be submitted to the Office of Drinking Water for approval and work is expected to begin in mid January.
The Drinking Water Quality Advisory that was issued on October 19, 2025, is still in effect. To see the advisory please go to www.virden.ca and for more information view the Arsenic in Manitoba Water Supplies Fact Sheet at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/pubs/water/drinking_water/factsheet_arsenic.pdf and/or the Health Canada publication on Arsenic in Drinking water at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/your-health/environment/arsenic-drinking-water.html#th
At this time, the Town would like to remind citizens that this is a precautionary water quality advisory that has been issued so that water users are aware of potential health risks and can take action to reduce these risks. The arsenic guideline is based on lifetime exposure (70 years). Health Canada recommends that to minimize health risks, every effort should be made to keep arsenic levels in drinking water as low as reasonably achievable.
Recommendations from the Advisory advise that if this is your primary drinking water source, you may wish to reduce the amount of water that you consume from this source. Options include using an alternative water source such as bottled water for drinking, preparing food or beverages, including ice and infant formula.
Town of Virden Council, Staff and the Project Team remain committed to supplying our residents with water that meets all provincial Drinking Water Standards.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to email:
Mayor Tina Williams at t.williams@virden.ca
CAO Rhonda Stewart at cao@virden.ca
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TOWN OF VIRDEN UPDATE #2
ON WATER CONSERVATION NOTICE & THE TOWN OF VIRDEN PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
The Town would like to thank everyone for their cooperation in limiting their use of water during the transition to the old water source. As Production Well #2 is fully operational, the water conservation notice is now lifted. If during the final phases of connecting the new well to the system a shut down is required, the public may be asked to limit usage. That request will be posted on the Town of Virden website and Facebook page, along with a notice being sent out through the emergency notification system.
The new Production Well No. 3 has been drilled with final connections to the pumphouse, occurring this week. Providing all works go as scheduled, the Town will start drawing from Well No. 3 the week of November 10, 2025.
A water testing schedule has been put in place with both raw and treated water from Production Well No. 2 being sampled on November 5, 2025, and sent for analysis. After Production Well No. 3 has been used for a minimum of two to three days, both raw and treated samples will be taken. All analytical is shared with the Office of Drinking Water and the Medical Officer of Health for review. These samples will dictate what further treatment or adjustments to the current treatment may be necessary should the water fail to meet the Canadian Drinking Water Standards for arsenic.
Communication with the Office of Drinking Water is ongoing. The Drinking Water Quality Advisory that was issued on October 19, 2025, is still in effect. To see the advisory please go to www.virden.ca and/or view the Arsenic in Manitoba Water Supplies Fact Sheet at: https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/pubs/water/drinking_water/factsheet_arsenic.pdf and/or the Health Canada Publication on Arsenic in Drinking Water at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/your-health/environment/arsenic-drinking-water.html#th
At this time, this is a precautionary water quality advisory that has been issued so that water users are aware of potential health risks and can take action to reduce these risks. The arsenic guideline is based on lifetime exposure (70 years). Health Canada recommends that to minimize health risks, every effort should be made to keep arsenic levels in drinking water as low as possible.
Recommendations from the Advisory advise that if this is your primary drinking water source, you may wish to reduce the amount of water that you consume from this source. Options include using an alternative water source such as bottled water for drinking, preparing food or beverages, including ice and infant formula.
Town of Virden Council, Staff and the Project Team remain committed to supplying our residents with water that meets all Canadian Drinking Water Standards.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to email:
Mayor Tina Williams at t.williams@virden.ca
CAO Rhonda Stewart at cao@virden.ca
