Water and Wastewater Facilities and Information-Drinking Water

The District's Drinking Water QMS Operational Plan was written to meet or exceed the requirements of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change's prescribed standard and is applicable to the management and operation of the District's water treatment and distribution systems.

The development and continual improvement of the plan will help ensure that all regulatory requirements are met and that consumers can be confident that their drinking water will continue to be protected through the effective application of QMS.

To request a copy of the District's Drinking Water QMS Operational Plan, please email publicworks@muskoka.on.ca

First you will need to know if the discolouration is in the hot water or cold water. Tip: If it is in the cold water, it will be in the toilets.

If discoloured hot water, you will need will to flush your hot water tank. This process does not require a plumber or gas company.  If you have access to the internet, you can google "how to flush a water heater" and there are detailed instructions as well as videos to assist. The District nor lower-tier municipalities do not look after hot water tanks.

If you have discoloured cold water, let the water run from the highest point of the house (upstairs bathroom) until it runs clear. If this does not clear the water, please contact the District of Muskoka at 705-645-6764 or visit our Service Interruption page to see if there is work being done in your area. The District does experience hard water with minerals (iron) which causes discoloration but please be rest assured it is still safe to use. 

Generally, this indicates that there is air in the pipes, usually more prevalent in cold weather. Cloudiness does eventually clear (approximately 10 seconds) and is not harmful; it's a side effect of hard water. 

If it does not clear, please contact contact the District of Muskoka at 705-645-6764 or visit our Service Interruption page to see if there is work being done in your area.

Please be rest assured that the water lines and sewage lines are separate. Water lines cannot be contaminated by sewage. First, try to flush your hot water tank. If this does not help, please contact the District of Muskoka at 705-645-6764 or visit our Service Interruption page to see if there is work being done in your area. Our crews will investigate and may flush the closest hydrant to your property.

There could be a number of reasons for low water pressure:

• If you have a water softener, put it on bypass and see if you have received your full water pressure back. If so, this is an indication that the water softener filter needs to be replaced or the softener needs maintenance. You may search online for your softener make and model to see where the bypass button is and what maintenance is required. Please note, even if your softener is not on or being used, water will still go through unless it is on bypass.
• If there was a water valve repair or replacement recently, the valves may not be fully open or turned all the way. Please check all the valves inside the home. If there is no change, please call the District of Muskoka to book an appointment for staff to investigate.
• There may be aerators (the screen located at the end of the faucet) that are blocked or clogged. You will need to unscrew the aerator on the faucet and clean the aerator.
• If this still does not work, please contact us.

Please call the District of Muskoka to request for your water valve to be located. Please note, this is only to locate your water valve.

If you required all utilities to be located for excavation work, please call Ontario One Call at 1-800-400-2255.