
Federal Drinking Water Systems
‘Most drinking water supplies in Canada are under provincial or territorial jurisdiction and have regulations, policies and/or standard operating procedures to follow. Federal departments are responsible for the safety of drinking water provided to consumers in areas of federal jurisdiction. Federal legislation establishes the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ) as the prescribed standards but does not provide guidance on their implementation.
The Interdepartmental Working Group on Drinking Water (IWGDW) was created in 2002 to develop health-based guidance for federal drinking water providers. It comprises federal representatives from departments that have responsibilities for producing and/or providing safe and reliable drinking water in areas of federal jurisdiction. Health Canada provides the technical secretariat for the working group and leads the development of this document’ (Health Canada).
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Acts
Guides
- Guidance for providing safe drinking water in areas of federal jurisdiction
- Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines
- Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality – Third Edition
- Issuing and Rescinding Boil Water Advisories in Canadian Drinking Water Supplies
- Issuing and Rescinding Drinking Water Avoidance Advisories in Emergency Situations
- Controlling Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
- Domestic Reclaimed Water for use in Toilet and Urinal Flushing
- Potassium from Water Softeners
Training
Links
- Health Canada – Environmental and Workplace Health department
- Environment Canada: Wastewater
- Questions and Answers on Drinking Water Treatment Devices
- Drinking Water Chlorination
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Free Small Systems Training from the Government of Canada
Guidance for Providing Safe Drinking Water in Areas of Federal Jurisdiction
First Nations Water System Resources
Read More

Regulatory Resources for Ontario Systems
The following links are sorted by their relevance to categories of drinking water systems.
If you are unsure of what regulation your system falls under, the documents below provide information on O. Reg. 170/03 and O. Reg. 319/08 systems.
Drinking Water Systems Under O. Reg. 170/03
Drinking Water Systems Under O. Reg. 319/08
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Large O. Reg. 170/03 Systems
2015 Watermain disinfection procedure
2020 Watermain disinfection procedure
A Guide for Drinking Water System Owners Seeking To Undertake a Backflow Prevention Program
A Student’s Guide to Drinking Water and Wastewater Operator Certification
Certification Guide for Operators and Water Quality Analysts of Drinking Water Systems
Design Guidelines for Drinking-Water Systems
Drinking Water Operator-In-Training Requirements
Experience as a Drinking Water Operator
Find Licensed Well Contractors
Guide for Applying for Drinking Water Works Permit Amendments, License Amendments
Guide for Applying for Fragmentation and Relief from Regulatory Requirements
Guide to Permit to Take Water Application Form
Guide to Supporting Information Required for a Municipal Drinking Water License Renewal
Laboratories Licensed to Test for Lead
Notice of Adverse Test Results and Issue Resolution
Ontario’s Drinking Water Quality Management Standard – Pocket Guide
Ontario Water Resources Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.40
O. Reg. 128/04: Certification of Drinking Water System Operators and Water Quality Analysts
O. Reg. 169/03: Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards
O. Reg. 170/03: Drinking Water Systems
O. Reg. 248/03: Drinking Water Testing Services
O. Reg. 284/07: Source Protection Areas and Regions
O. Reg. 387/04: Water Taking and Transfer
Overall Responsible Operator vs. Operator-in-Charge
Practices for Collection and Handling of Drinking Water Samples
Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario
Questions and Answers – Watermain Disinfection Procedure
Request for Early Implementation of the Watermain Disinfection Procedure
Required Qualifications to Operate, Test or Sample Drinking Water Systems
Taking Care of Your Drinking Water: A Guide for Members of Municipal Councils
Technical Support Document for Ontario Drinking Water Standards, Objectives and Guidelines
Training Requirements for Drinking Water Operators
Water and Energy Conservation Guidance Manual for Sewage Works
Watermain Disinfection Procedure
Water Quality Analyst Experience and Director Approved Course
Water Supply Wells: Requirements and Best Practices
Well Regulation – Well Construction Licensing (technical bulletin)
Well Regulation – Well Maintenance (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Completing the New Well’s Structure (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Flowing Wells (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Installing Equipment in a Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Siting a New Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Abandonment: How to Plug and Seal a Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Abandonment: When to Plug and Seal a Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Disinfection (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Repairs and Other Alterations (technical bulletin)
Small O. Reg. 170/03 Systems
A Guide for Operators and Owners of Drinking Water Systems that Serve Designated Facilities
A Guide for Owners and Operators of Non-Municipal Year-Round Residential Drinking Water Systems
Application Form for Fragmentation or Relief from Regulatory Requirements form
Declaration of Professional Engineer and Notice of Completion for changes to a drinking water system
Drinking Water System Profile Information form
Find Licensed Well Contractors
Flushing and Sampling for Lead
Flushing Plumbing in Schools, Private Schools and Day Nurseries
Flushing your Plumbing: At-a-glance guide for schools, private schools and child care centres
Guide for Applying for Drinking Water Works Permit Amendments, License Amendments
Guide for Applying for Fragmentation and Relief from Regulatory Requirements
Guide for Schools, Private Schools and Day Nurseries on Flushing and Testing for Lead
Guide to Permit to Take Water Application Form
How to Maintain Your Trained Person Designation
Identify and control excess lead in drinking water in schools and child care centres
Laboratories Licensed to Test for Lead
Laboratory Services Notification for adding or changing labs
Notice of Adverse Test Results and Issue Resolution
Ontario Drinking Water Regulations for Small Systems
O. Reg. 128/04: Certification of Drinking Water System Operators and Water Quality Analysts
O. Reg. 169/03: Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards
O. Reg. 170/03: Drinking Water Systems
O. Reg. 243/07: Schools, Private Schools and Day Nurseries
Practices for Collection and Handling of Drinking Water Samples
Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario
Questions and Answers – Watermain Disinfection Procedure
Request for Early Implementation of the Watermain Disinfection Procedure
Required Qualifications to Operate, Test or Sample Drinking Water Systems
Rules for non-municipal drinking water systems
Sampling for Lead: At-a-Glance guide for schools, private schools and child care centres
Sampling for Lead in Schools, Private Schools and Day Nurseries
Technical Support Document for Ontario Drinking Water Standards, Objectives and Guidelines
Training Manual for Supervised Persons Conducting Operational Checks
Watermain disinfection procedure
Water Supply Wells: Requirements and Best Practices
Well Regulation – Well Construction Licensing (technical bulletin)
Well Regulation – Well Maintenance (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Completing the New Well’s Structure (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Flowing Wells (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Installing Equipment in a Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Siting a New Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Abandonment: How to Plug and Seal a Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Abandonment: When to Plug and Seal a Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Disinfection (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Repairs and Other Alterations (technical bulletin)
O. Reg. 319/08 Systems
Find Licensed Well Contractors
Guide for Applying for Drinking Water Works Permit Amendments, License Amendments
Laboratories Licensed to Test for Lead
Laboratory Services Notification (LSN) Small Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O.Reg. 319/08)
Notice of Adverse Test Results and Issue Resolution – Small Drinking Water Systems (MOHLTC)
Ontario Water Resources Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.40
O. Reg. 169/03: Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards
O. Reg. 319/08: Small Drinking Water Systems
O. Reg. 387/04: Water Taking and Transfer
Practices for Collection and Handling of Drinking Water Samples
Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario
Small Drinking Water System Identification
Small Drinking Water Systems under the Health Protection and Promotion Act – Treatment Options
Small Drinking Water Systems under the Health Protection and Promotion Act – Sampling and Testing
Small Drinking Water Systems under the Health Protection and Promotion Act – Operator Training
Small Drinking Water Systems under the Health Protection and Promotion Act – Get to Know the Law
Small Drinking Water Systems under the Health Protection and Promotion Act – Source Water
Technical Support Document for Ontario Drinking Water Standards, Objectives and Guidelines
Watermain disinfection procedure
Water Supply Wells: Requirements and Best Practices
Well Regulation – Well Construction Licensing (technical bulletin)
Well Regulation – Well Maintenance (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Completing the New Well’s Structure (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Flowing Wells (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Installing Equipment in a Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Siting a New Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Abandonment: How to Plug and Seal a Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Abandonment: When to Plug and Seal a Well (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Disinfection (technical bulletin)
Wells Regulation – Well Repairs and Other Alterations (technical bulletin)
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
First Nations Water System Resources
Small Drinking Water Systems Resources
2021 Annual Reports on Drinking Water in Ontario
Read More