• Why is it important to have safe drinking water?
• How does drinking water become contaminated?
• Does the water source affect contamination?
• How do I keep my drinking water safe?
• What else should I know about testing my water supply?
• How can you stay up-to-date on drinking water issues?
• What is the new Small Drinking Water Systems (SDWS) Program?
• What is a Small Drinking Water System (SDWS)?
• What are the regulations that apply to small drinking water systems?
• Should I do anything different to prepare for my risk assessment under the new SDWS program?
• What do I need to know about collecting water samples?
• What should I do if my test results for bacteria are “adverse” or “unacceptable”?
• How do I know what type of water treatment system to install?
• Where can I find additional information?

Did you know that as of December 1, 2008, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) has oversight of small drinking water systems (SDWS) in Ontario? The MOHLTC has prepared an information kit to help you become familiar with the changes to Ontario’s drinking water legislation. Reading the poster How to Ensure your Water is Safe is a good beginning.

Water can become contaminated with:

• Biological organisms, such as bacteria, parasites and viruses;
• Chemical agents, such as nitrates and lead;
• Toxins created by algae in surface water.

If your drinking water comes from a lake, stream, reservoir or surface water, it can become contaminated in a number of ways. Rain water, melting snow and other drainage carry impurities into surface water sources.

Common examples are bacteria and chemicals from farm animal activity, sewage run-off from malfunctioning septic systems or industrial discharges.

Surface water sources are unsafe for drinking, unless the water is filtered and treated to destroy harmful micro-organisms.

If you get your drinking water from a well, contaminants may enter through cracks in the casing, poorly fitted lids or other structural faults. Private wells can become contaminated with bacteria, nitrates or other chemicals if they are close to sources of pollution.

PROTECT your drinking water at the source. Identify possible contaminants such as:

• Run-off from farming activities and malfunctioning septic systems;
• Keep these contaminants away from your water source;
• Ensure your private well is soundly built to keep out contaminants.

MONITOR your drinking water system regularly.

• Have a professional lab test your water regularly;
• Check regulations to see how often to test drinking water;
• Check treatment equipment, particularly if chlorine is used to disinfect water.

TREAT your water with a disinfection system if lab results show unacceptable levels of contamination. This is especially important for surface water sources.

MAINTAIN your drinking water system.

• Take good care of the pipes, pumps, valves, storage tanks, reservoirs, meters and fittings;
• Check your entire system from the water source to the tap;
• Consider a preventative maintenance program. It is always best to stop the problem before it starts;
• If you use chlorine to disinfect your water, test regularly. Kits that test the water quality are available from local suppliers;
• Check your equipment regularly to make sure it works properly.

NOTIFY the public when you have identified a problem with your SDWS, whether it is a poor water sample test result or equipment that is not working properly.

• Post notices to get the word out;
• Post instructions at all taps;
• Discuss the problem with your local public health inspector (PHI).

Well water may not require treatment if the well is secure and regular samples show acceptable water quality.

• Consult with professional suppliers to identify and install the appropriate methods for treatment where required.

Commercial labs licensed by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) are locally available for testing. Labs provide sample bottles and instructions for collecting water. Use only licensed labs for tests.

The sampling requirements for E. coli and total coliforms are provided in O. Reg. 318/08 and O. Reg. 319/08.

The lab report will provide information about the type and levels of harmful contaminants in your drinking water. It will also identify any contaminants that are higher than the acceptable levels set out in O. Reg. 169/03 (Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards).

Effective December 1, 2008, small drinking water systems have been transferred from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). They are now governed by two new regulations under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA):

• Ontario Regulation 318/08 (Transitional - Small Drinking Water Systems) and;
• Ontario Regulation 319/08 (Small Drinking Water Systems).

The new program is now administered by local boards of health. Public health inspectors (PHI) will conduct a site-specific risk assessment for every small drinking water system in the province. Based on the assessment, they will determine what owners and operators must do to keep their drinking water safe, and will issue a directive for the system. The directive may include requirements for water testing, treatment options or training. This reflects a customized approach for each small drinking water system depending on the level of risk.

If your business or premises makes drinking water available to the public and you do not get your drinking water from a municipal drinking water system, you may be an owner or operator of a small drinking water system. If you are not sure whether your system is affected, contact your local public health unit.

The five categories of small drinking water systems that were transferred from the MOE to the MOHLTC are:

1. Large municipal non-residential drinking water systems that serve such facilities as municipally-owned airports and industrial parks, and large sports and recreation facilities.
2. Small municipal non-residential drinking water systems that serve such facilities as small community centres, libraries, and sports and recreation facilities.
3. Non-municipal seasonal residential drinking water systems that serve such facilities as private cottages on communal drinking water systems.
4. Large non-municipal non-residential drinking water systems that serve such facilities as large motels and resorts.
5. Small non-municipal non-residential drinking water systems that serve such facilities as motels, restaurants, gas stations, churches, and bed and breakfasts.

It should be noted that systems serving designated facilities such as children’s camps, health care facilities, social care facilities, schools, universities, colleges or other degree-granting institutions are not considered small drinking water systems and remain under MOE regulation.

Until November 30, 2008, small drinking water systems were regulated under O. Reg. 252/05 under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. Effective December 1, 2008, small drinking water systems are now governed by two new regulations under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA):

• Ontario Regulation 318/08 (Transitional - Small Drinking Water Systems) and;
• Ontario 319/08 (Small Drinking Water Systems).

The new regulations will work as follows:

• On December 1, 2008, O. Reg. 252/05 was revoked and a similar regulation, O. Reg. 318/08 came into effect. If you previously owned or operated a drinking water system under O. Reg 252/05, your system is now subject to similar requirements under O. Reg. 318/08.
• O. Reg. 318/08 will continue to apply to your SDWS until a PHI from your local public health unit conducts a site-specific risk assessment and issues a directive to you (described below).
• Once a directive has been issued to you, your SDWS will now be subject to O. Reg. 319/08.
  

Under the new SDWS program, owners and operators of small drinking water systems will continue to be responsible for keeping the drinking water safe and meeting their regulatory requirements, including routine water sampling. Before a public health inspector arranges the initial site-specific risk assessment, owners and operators should make sure their water sampling history is up-to-date.

The way water samples are collected, stored and transported is important for accurate results. When you collect water samples, remember to:

• Collect samples in bottles provided by the lab;
• Keep samples in the refrigerator, but do not freeze;
• Submit samples to the lab within 24 hours.

If your test results indicate your drinking water is unsafe, then you must:

• Stop using the water supply for drinking;
• Notify others to avoid drinking the water;
• Follow the notification requirements in O. Reg. 318/08 and O. Reg. 319/08;
• Contact your local public health unit.

Treatment depends on the type of contamination. The two main treatments are filtration and disinfection. Points you should remember:

• Filters installed at key points in the water system will remove particles and some parasites;
• Disinfection systems such as chlorination or ultraviolet light treatment devices will reduce harmful bacteria;
• Specialized water treatment devices are available to remove chemicals from the water. Consult with your local supplier for the best choices for your system;
• The source of your water supply and type of contamination will determine if you need to use both filtration and disinfection devices.

Get advice from a water treatment specialist to choose the best ways to make your drinking water safe.

For the best treatment, buy only devices that have been certified and meet industry standards.

For information, visit the Ministry of the Environment website

Please remember…
This fact sheet is only a summary of your responsibilities as the owner or operator of a SDWS and is not a substitute for legal advice. For a more complete understanding of your legal responsibilities as an owner or operator, refer to Ontario Regulation 318/08 and Ontario Regulation 319/08 or any directives issued on your system.

In addition, you should become familiar with the procedure documents produced to help you efficiently operate a SDWS:

• Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario; and
• Procedure for Corrective Action for Small Drinking Water Systems that are Not Currently Using Chlorine.

For general information about well water safety, ask your health unit staff for a copy of:

• Keeping Your Well Water Safe to Drink: An information kit to help you care for your well.
  

You may also find additional information on the following Ontario ministry websites:

Acts and Regulations:

• Ontario Regulation 318/08
• Ontario Regulation 319/08

Ministry of the Environment (MOE)

• Current list of licensed laboratories .

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)

You can request that you be added to the mailing list to stay current on small drinking water systems by sending an email to:
environmental.health@ontario.ca

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