Sodium in drinking water in Oxford County
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH UPDATE FOR RESIDENTS, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Oxford County municipal water systems are supplied by groundwater from underground aquifers that have varying levels of naturally present sodium.
Oxford County municipal water containing sodium levels under 200 mg/L is considered safe for drinking. However, sodium levels above 20 mg/L may be a concern for individuals on sodium-restricted diets, due to various medical conditions and illnesses. In these cases, the Medical Officer of Health is required to inform health professionals in order to assist these individuals.
This Health Advisory is to advise residents, health care professionals and other users of the municipal drinking water supply that sodium levels in the following Oxford County communities have tested above 20 mg/L.
| Communities with sodium levels above 20 mg/L | |
| Bright (76.3 – 76.5 mg/L) | Brownsville (77.3 – 79.2 mg/L) |
| Embro (20.9 – 22.0 mg/L) | Ingersoll (44.6 – 81.7 mg/L) |
| Mount Elgin (24.0 – 37.0 mg/L) | Tavistock (18.7 – 21.0 mg/L) |
| Thamesford (27.0 – 27.1 mg/L) | Tillsonburg* (2.55 – 51.7 mg/L) |
| Oxford South – Norwich, Otterville, Springford (18.4 – 52.5 mg/L) | Plattsville (20.3 – 21.7 mg/L) |
| Woodstock** (11.7 – 93.5 mg/L) | |
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* Tillsonburg: Sodium levels may be above 20 mg/L in some parts of the municipal drinking water supply. Varies depending on the wells in use. The majority of wells are below the standard. ** Woodstock: Sodium levels above 20 mg/L in some parts of the municipal drinking water supply only. While sodium concentrations for the majority of properties are not a concern, elevated sodium concentrations may be present occasionally in the immediate vicinity of Sutherland Park. Testing: Oxford County is required to test for sodium in municipal drinking water every five years for each water treatment facility. For more information visit: https://www.oxfordcounty.ca/en/services-for-you/annual-reports.aspx |
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HEALTH CONSIDERATION: INDIVIDUALS ON SODIUM-RESTRICTED DIETS
Your body needs sodium in order to maintain blood pressure, control fluid levels, and for normal nerve and muscle function. Food, not water, is the major source of sodium in our diets. Sodium is also found in drugs such as antacids, laxatives, aspirin and cough medicines, as well as table salt. One teaspoon of table salt or sea salt contains 2,300 mg of sodium.
For healthy adults and youth 14 and older, it is recommended to limit sodium to 1500-2300 mg per day. For a healthy adult, the level of sodium in the water supply does not pose a risk to health.
Who is at risk? For people on sodium restricted diets, the amount of sodium in the water may be significant. For instance, drinking up to two litres of water per day at the levels found in some parts of Oxford County could add 40-187 mg of sodium to a person’s diet. If you or members of your family have kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure or liver disease, and need to restrict your salt intake because of these illnesses, please ask your physician or health care professional how sodium in the water may affect your health.
Water softeners
Water softeners can add significant amounts of sodium to your drinking water. If you have a water softener, consider using a separate unsoftened water supply for cooking and drinking, or use a separate water line for drinking that bypasses the water softener. Water from a water softener should not be given to infants and should not be used to prepare infant beverages including formula and juice.
More information
If you have questions about sodium in your drinking water, please consult your health care professional, or call Southwestern Public Health at 1-800-922-0096. More information is available online at www.swpublichealth.ca.
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