Water Quality

Learn how we keep your drinking water safe and clean, and how you can report any issues.

City of Surrey drinking water comes from the pristine watersheds in the North Shore Mountains and is delivered to the City by Metro Vancouver. Surrey's water quality is monitored, meets all the Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines, and does not need to be filtered in your home. There is no fluoride added to the water.

Water sampling reports

Weekly samples are collected from 51 stations located throughout the City and analyzed for chlorine residual, turbidity (cloudiness), temperature and bacteria levels.

The following annual reports summarize the City's water quality:

Watermain flushing program

As part of the City’s maintenance program, watermain flushing is required to remove sediments and to maintain water quality across Surrey.

Current watermain flushing locations

Newton (view map)
Kennedy (view map)

For more information, call the Water Department at 604-591-4152 from 8am to 4pm, or 604-543-6700 after hours.

COVID-19 update: re-opening buildings

Response to the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the prolonged closure or reduced occupancy of many buildings. When buildings are closed or on low occupancy for any prolonged period, water in the building becomes stagnant and can pose a number of potential health risks to consumers. Prior to re-opening or fully re-occupying a building, building managers need to take steps to ensure the water in the building is safe to consume.

The Canadian Water and Waste Water Association (CWWA) has released guidelines to help support building managers to ensure that their building water is safe for consumption. For more information, see the CWWA's Safely Re-Opening Buildings: A Fact Sheet for Building Owners/Operators.

Water quality questions

Pink stains on surfaces

Pink stains are generally observed in bathroom surfaces where water sits for a longer period of time. These stains are not a problem with the water quality. They are caused by microorganisms called Serratia marcescens. The best way to control these microorganisms is through regular and thorough cleaning, followed by disinfection with chlorine bleach.

When to contact a plumber

White flakes in water

White flakes plugging up faucet aerators, washer lint screens, dishwasher screens or any other water using appliances may be the result of the dip tube in your hot water tank being defective and disintegrating. If you believe this is happening, contact a certified plumber to evaluate your hot water tank.

Report a drinking water problem

Discoloured or slight odour

This can be resolved by flushing the cold water tap until the problem disappears. If the water does not return to normal after 30 minutes, you should report a drinking water problem.

Discolouration or slight odour from your water is often caused by main flushing, repairs to main breaks, construction of new mains, or high demands on the system (firefighting, outdoor water uses in the summer).

Cloudy water

If after 30 minutes your water does not return to normal you should report a drinking water problem.

Cloudy water may be caused by air bubbles in the water, which is the result of pressure in the pipes or cooler weather conditions. Cooler weather conditions trap more air bubbles in water. Initially the glass of water will look cloudy. However, as the air bubbles are released, the water becomes clear.

How to report a drinking water problem

Make sure you have your address, contact information, and a description of the problem ready before reporting a problem.

Call in non-emergency problems on the water system directly to the City of Surrey at 604-591-4152, or submit an online service request.

For drinking water advisories or any other health concerns with water in your home or business, please contact Fraser Health at 604-870-7900.