draft for comment – Walkerton Clean Water Centre

by Laura ZettlerMay 18, 2021 Drinking Water Resource Library0 comments

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Proposed Regulatory Changes

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is proposing regulatory changes that would allow it and system owners and operating authorities to act quickly to help ensure the province’s drinking water systems and sewage works have the staff needed to continue operations during an emergency. These proposed changes align with temporary measures we enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic and would only be available for use during an emergency that could affect continuity of water related services.

The proposed changes to Ontario’s drinking water and wastewater operator regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 and the Ontario Water Resources Act include:

Emergency related amendments that aim to help address drinking water and wastewater operator certification issues that may arise during an emergency or its aftermath and provide system owners and operating authorities of drinking water systems and wastewater facilities with temporary staffing options, while continuing to uphold strong environmental protection and ensuring the health and safety of Ontarians and the natural environment.
Strike and lock-out related amendments that would formalize and clarify the process for owners and operating authorities of drinking water systems and wastewater facilities to request ministry Director’s direction and/or exemption from operator certification requirements during a strike or lock-out.
Amendments to harmonize the circumstances under which the ministry Director may revoke or suspend a drinking water operator’s certificate or wastewater operator’s licence.

We invite you to view the full proposals on the Environmental Registry and provide your feedback by July 2, 2021:

Proposed amendments to drinking water operator and water quality analyst certification regulation to address impacts of emergencies (019-3513)
Proposed amendments to wastewater operator licensing regulation to address impacts of emergencies (019-3515)

MECP staff will continue to support you during this difficult time. Please contact your local ministry district office if you are experiencing operator staffing shortages that may lead to a break in continuity of operations, so that we can discuss potential options to help ensure continued safe operations.

Ontario’s drinking water remains among the best protected in the world. Working with our partners and municipalities, we will continue to ensure our drinking water is held to Ontario’s high safety standards, and that the environment continues to be protected.

If you have any questions, please email: operator.certification.moe@ontario.ca

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Disponible en français.

by Laura ZettlerFebruary 16, 2021 Drinking Water Resource Library0 comments

Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Drafts for Review

Standard W211 (Management Standard for Stormwater Systems)

‘This Standard outlines minimum requirements and recommendations for the management of a Stormwater System established by an Operating Authority. It provides a standardized guidance process to manage a Stormwater System to meet regulatory requirements, reflect sound policy decision-making, and demonstrate a high standard of care to minimize legal, environmental, social and economic risks especially given a changing climate and hydrologic conditions. It also provides a documentation protocol to ensure all changes and decisions made in policy and procedures are well documented and identifies steps for Operating Authorities to internally audit their management system. (CSA, 2021)’

Review Details

Designation: W211
Source: CSA
Contact: lynn.barber@csagroup.org
Review start date: March 10, 2021
Review end date: May 10, 2021

Documents

Management Standard for Stormwater Systems (New Standard)

Norme de gestion des systèmes d’eaux pluviales (New Standard – French)

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by Laura ZettlerOctober 20, 2020 Drinking Water Resource Library0 comments

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Draft Documents for Consultation

The following documents are drafts provided by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and are being provided for discussion purposes only.

Feedback is collected and reviewed during the set consultation period.

Drafts

Groundwater Under the Direct Influence of Surface Water (GUDI) Terms of Reference – Jan 2019 Draft

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by Laura ZettlerOctober 19, 2020 Drinking Water Resource Library0 comments

Health Canada Documents for Public Review & Comment

When Health Canada has intent to update guidelines related to drinking water, a technical guideline document is developed to propose these changes. The document is first reviewed by external experts before seeking comments from the public during a limited consultation period.

Below you can access open and closed consultations. Information to submit comments is located within each link on Health Canada’s website.

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Open Consultations

4-Chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic Acid (MCPA) in Drinking Water: Guideline Technical Document for Public Consultation

Recently Closed Consultations

Consultation: Proposed guideline for Bromoxynil in drinking water

Consultation: Cyanobacteria and their Toxins in Recreational Water – Guideline Technical Document

Proposed guideline technical document for dicamba in drinking water

Boron in Drinking Water: Guideline Technical Document for Public Consultation

Guidance on Monitoring the Biological Stability of Drinking Water in Distribution Systems

Proposed guideline for Canadian drinking water quality for metribuzin

Withdrawal of Select Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality