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Saskatoon Drinking Water Quality
By OpenStats · Built from official Canadian sources
Direct municipal dataB
Water quality grade
Good
Graded against Health Canada drinking water guidelines
Lead within guidelinepH in range
Hardness vs provincial average196 mg/L · prov. avg 196 mg/L
Lead vs provincial average0 μg/L · prov. avg 0.5 μg/L
Hardness
196 mg/L
Lead
0 μg/L
≤ 5 μg/L
pH
8.2
6.5–8.5 range
Hardness
196 mg/L
Very hard
Lead
0 μg/L
Max: 5 μg/L
pH
8.2
6.5–8.5
Chlorine
0.5 mg/L
Max: 4 mg/L
From source to sink
Where Saskatoon water comes from
Lakes, rivers, wells, and treatment plants behind the kitchen tap, in plain language. Chemistry grades above are a separate lab snapshot; this section is the route the water travels.
Open the full tap storyOn the map
Where Saskatoon water lives
Source waters and treatment plants pinned from published utility names. Open a pin below for the full OpenStreetMap view.
- CitySaskatoon
Municipal service area
- Source waterSouth Saskatchewan River
River at Saskatoon
- Treatment plantSaskatoon Water Treatment Plant
Approximate pin near Saskatoon (exact plant coordinates pending)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins are approximate for orientation, not legal survey points.
Where it starts
Surface water
Research confidence: high
Named source waters
- South Saskatchewan River
Treatment plants
Saskatoon Water Treatment Plant
City plant at 831 11th Street West on the historic Avenue H / 11th Street site (combined power and water works since 1906). Draws river water through primary intakes upstream of the plant (rated about 350 MLD) plus a secondary on-site intake with emergency power.
How it reaches your street
Treated water feeds the city distribution system and four potable storage reservoirs (about 157 million litres combined). Bulk water is also sold to SaskWater for surrounding communities.
SponsoredAlso consider
Whole-house water softener
Best for hardness ≥ 180 mg/L
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Water hardness test strips
Confirm mg/L before sizing a unit
As an Amazon Associate, OpenStats earns from qualifying purchases.
Partner
Lab water test for Saskatoon taps
Municipal reports cover the plant. A Tap Score kit tests the water at a Saskatoon tap for a broader contaminant panel.
Lab kit partner link. We may earn a commission when tracking is active.
Reading this page
Saskatoon's most recent drinking water sample (2026-07-22) reports hardness of 196 mg/L, classified as very hard, and pH 8.2, drawn from a mixed water source and treated at Saskatoon Water Treatment Plant. Lead measured 0 μg/L and fluoride 0.7 mg/L.
Free chlorine measured 0.5 mg/L in this sample. No E. coli was detected in this sample.
Saskatoon's hardness of 196 mg/L is below the Saskatchewan average of 196 mg/L across 10 tracked municipalities, with a provincial average pH of 7.5.
These readings summarize a single compliance snapshot, not a certification of the water reaching your tap. Test your own water periodically, especially on a private well, and consider a softener if hardness is classified hard or very hard.
How to use this page: read the headline metrics first, then where the water comes from (map and tap story), then the parameter table and source footer.
Health parameters meet Health Canada limits; turbidity above the 1 NTU typical target and very hard water.
Health parameters meet Health Canada limits; turbidity exceeds the typical 1 NTU aesthetic target.
Figure 1 · From source to sink
How drinking water reaches your tap
Compared to provincial average
Saskatchewan · 10 cities in sample
Hardness (city vs Saskatchewan avg)196 mg/L
pH (city vs Saskatchewan avg)8.2
Lead (city vs Saskatchewan avg)0 μg/L
Fluoride (city vs Saskatchewan avg)0.7 mg/L
Provincial average: hardness 196 mg/L · pH 7.5 · lead 0.5 μg/L · fluoride 0.6 mg/L
Full parameters
| Parameter | Reading | Health Canada guideline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 196 mg/L | No health limit (aesthetic) | Compliant |
| pH | 8.2 | 6.5–8.5 | Compliant |
| Lead | 0 μg/L | ≤ 5 μg/L | Compliant |
| Fluoride | 0.7 mg/L | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | Compliant |
| Chlorine (free) | 0.5 mg/L | ≤ 4 mg/L | Compliant |
| Turbidity | 1.7 NTU | ≤ 1 NTU (typical target) | Exceeds guideline |
Alberta water licences
WaterRegister.ca
On a private well or holding an Alberta water allocation licence? Water Register maps EPA licence records, transfer comparables, and watershed context across the province.
Explore WaterRegister.ca →Water softeners for hard water
Very hard water. Whole-house softeners are the high-ticket fit; salt and test kits support the install.
As an Amazon Associate, OpenStats earns from qualifying purchases.
· Compare options- Shop on Amazon.caWhole-house water softenerBest for hardness ≥ 180 mg/L
- Shop on Amazon.caSoftener saltOngoing supply (high repurchase)
- Shop on Amazon.caWater descalerScale reduction without salt
- Shop on Amazon.caWater hardness test stripsConfirm mg/L before sizing a unit
- Shop on Amazon.caTDS meterQuick dissolved-solids check
Source · City of Saskatoon water treatment plant PTO laboratory report. Last updated 2026-07-22. Refreshed on the site's automated schedule.