Homeowner Information & Resources
This collection of resources provides information related to questions commonly received from private homeowners and members of the public. Information related to water testing, home treatment systems, wells, source water protection and water related emergencies can be found here.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Water Testing
- Well Water Testing (Private Drinking Water) – Public Health Units provide testing for the presence of the bacterial indicators of contamination, E. coli and total coliforms in private drinking water systems.
- Public Health Units – Find your local Public Health Unit in this directory for information on local water testing programs.
- Testing Your Water – A video demonstrating how to collect a water sample for the Public Health Unit’s bacterial indicator testing program.
- List of Licensed Labs – A directory of labs licensed to test drinking water in the province of Ontario if you would like to pay for private testing.
- Drinking Water Quality – Indicator Bacteria (Total Coliforms and E. Coli) – A fact sheet describing the Public Health Unit’s test for bacterial indicators of contamination.
- How Do I Get My Drinking Water Tested? – A fact sheet made by the Walkerton Clean Water Centre summarizing how a homeowner can go about testing their water.
- Instructions for well owners who have e. coli and total coliforms in their well sample results – Public Health guidance for unacceptable test results.
- Testing and Treating Private Water Wells – A Government of Ontario guide for private well owners.
- Well Aware booklet – Guides you through the life cycle of a well, how to maintain your well, and shows you how your well affects water quality.
- Well Water Contaminants of Concern – Information on common groundwater contaminants from Wellowner.org.
Home Water Treatment
- A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment Technologies for Household Use – A fact sheet produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the effectiveness of point-of-use or point-of-entry drinking water treatment technologies for household use against different contaminants.
- A Guide to Water Filters – This guide was produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for filtering tap water (previously treated water).
- Choosing Home Water Filters & Other Water Treatment Systems – This guide was produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Contaminant Reduction Claims Guide – This guide was produced by NSF International who certifies purification systems designed to reduce contaminants. This directory shows which systems they have certified to reduce lead, arsenic, bacteria, cysts, viruses, chlorine, chloramine, chromium, fluoride, nitrate/nitrite, PFOA/PFOS, trihalomethanes and volatile organic compounds.
- Do I Need to Use Certified Products or Materials for my Drinking Water? – A Walkerton Clean Water Centre fact sheet providing information on how to select plumbing products and treatment systems for your drinking water at home.
- Drinking Water Safety – Cisterns – A fact sheet produced by Haldimand and Norfolk Health and Social Services about maintaining, cleaning and disinfecting a cistern.
- Drinking Water Treatability Database – Presents referenced information on the control of contaminants in drinking water. After selecting ‘Find a Contaminant’ you will find a ‘Treatment Processes’ tab that lists the treatment processes with literature on the log or percent removal, water quality conditions and operational parameters references in the ‘Data’ tab.
- Hard Water at Home – A homeowner’s guide to hard water and similar issues produced by a real estate company.
- Home Water Treatment System Selection – A guide for selecting a home water treatment system produced by NSF International.
- Rainwater Collection – Tips and information for homeowners interested in collecting rainwater to conserve resources by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Ultimate Guide to Well Water Treatment – A guide to understanding well water and possible methods of treatment written by a plumber.
Plumbing
- Flushing Your Home: How to Flush an Entire House Plumbing System– A step-by-step guide produced by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to flush the plumbing in your home.
- How Much Water Does a Leaky Toilet Waste? – A video experiment showing you how much water is wasted by a leaky toilet in your home.
- How to Drain Your Water Heater – Step-by-step instructions produced by the District of Columbia for draining your water heater.
- How to Find Your Water Shut Off Valve – This video demonstrates how to locate and operate your water shut off valve to prevent further water damage during an emergency.
- How to Fix a Bathtub Faucet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to replace a leaky cartridge in a bathtub faucet.
- How to Fix a Double-Stem Faucet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to fix a leaky double-stem faucet.
- How to Fix a Leaky Toilet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to fix a leaky toilet.
- How to Fix a Single-Stem Faucet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to fix a leaky single-stem faucet.
- How to flush your own (drinking water) pipes at home – A video made by the Green Bay Utility demonstrating how to flush all the plumbing in a typical home.
- How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System and Plumbing Products – A fact sheet produced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for sourcing lead free certified products to be used for drinking water systems.
- How to Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing – A video demonstrating how to prevent frozen water lines to keep the water flowing in your home.
- Do I Need to Use Certified Products or Materials for my Drinking Water? – A Walkerton Clean Water Centre fact sheet providing information on how to select plumbing products and treatment systems for your drinking water at home.
- How to Install a Water Softener– A video produced by US Water Systems providing general directions for installing a water softener.
Water Meters
- How to Read Your Water Meter: Automated Model – A video demonstrating how to read your automated water meter.
- How to Read Your Water Meter: Dial Model (Manual)– A video demonstrating how to read your manual dial-type water meter.
Wells
View these other posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
- Private Wells
- Well Aware and Well Wise Program Resources for Homeowners
- Wells Help Desk and Well Records in Ontario
- Well Construction and Licensing
Source Water Protection
View this post on the WCWC online library for more information.
Emergency Disinfection
- Chlorine Dilution Calculator
- Disinfecting Wells After a Disaster
- Well Disinfection Tool
- What to do After the Flood
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Asbestos-Cement Pipes and Drinking Water
Between the 1940’s and 1970’s, cement containing asbestos was used for water distribution pipes (known as A-C pipe). A-C pipe has not been installed in municipal water systems for over 50 years and it is a generally accepted practice that A-C pipe be removed and replaced during any construction that exposes these pipes that remain in the ground.
The following links provide information on asbestos in drinking water including potential methods of exposure, health risks and treatment information.
For Members of the Public:
- Asbestos in drinking water
- Is the Asbestos in Our Drinking Water Dangerous?
- Asbestos in Drinking Water: The Danger of Old Asbestos Pipes and Natural Disasters
- Asbestos in the Water Supply
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (United States) – ToxFAQs™ for Asbestos
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (United States) – Public Health Statement for Asbestos
Water Quality Guidelines
- Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – Asbestos
- World Health Organization – Asbestos in drinking-water
- United States Environmental Protection Agency – National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
For Operators, Management, Council Members and Communications Teams:
- Canadian Water and Wastewater Association Speaking Notes on Asbestos-Cement Water Pipes
- Trending in an Instant – A Risk Communication Guide for Water Utilities
Photo from Canadian Water and Wastewater Association Speaking Notes on Asbestos-Cement Water Pipes.
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Health Canada Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality
Per- & Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS, PFOA & PFOS)
Legionella & Legionnaires’ Disease (Legionellosis)
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Potable Water Hauling
This collection of resources was gathered for haulers of potable drinking water. Guidance documents and information on inspections, sanitizing and sampling procedures can be found here.
If you have any questions regarding hauling potable drinking water, contact your local public health unit to speak to an inspector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario Guidance
- Drinking Water Haulage Guidance Document – Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
- Drinking Water Hauler Inspection Program – Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
- Drinking Water Haulage Vehicle Requirements – Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
- Drinking Water Hauler Guidance – Brant County Health Unit
- Guidelines for Drinking Water Haulers – Niagara Region
- Providing Safe Drinking Water to Cisterns at Non-Residential Drinking Water Systems Serving Designated Facilities – Ontario
- Measures to Mitigate Risk of Contaminated Hauled Water – Region of Peel Public Health
Canadian Guidance
- Disinfection Guideline for Bulk Water Haulers – saskh2o.ca
- Bulk Water Hauling Guidelines – gov.mb.ca
- Guideline for Bulk Water Hauling – Fraser Health
Tools
Chlorine Testing
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
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Water Talk Fact Sheet Series
The Water Talk fact sheet series provides several levels of information on various water quality issues. While some of the information is technical in nature, each sheet provides a general overview of the issue that may go beyond drinking water, and is written in straightforward language that is easy to understand (Health Canada, 2022).
If you have concerns about your drinking water or health, contact your public drinking water authority or public health authority for more information.
Water Talk Series
- Aluminum in drinking water
- Chloramines in drinking water
- Barium in drinking water
- Copper in drinking water
- Manganese in drinking water
- Be well aware – Information for private well owners
- Drinking water quality in Canada
- Perfluoroalkylated substances in drinking water
- Enteric protozoa (Giardia and Cryptosporidium) in drinking water
- Enteric viruses in drinking water
- Lead in drinking water
- Strontium in drinking water
- Uranium in drinking water
- 1,4-Dioxane in drinking water
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Health Canada Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality
Health Canada Guidance Documents
Health Canada Documents for Public Review & Comment
Federal Drinking Water Systems
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Health Canada Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality
Guidelines are established based on current, published scientific research related to health effects, aesthetic effects, and operational considerations. Guidelines (maximum acceptable concentrations or treatment goals) are based on a comprehensive review of the known health effects associated with each contaminant, on exposure levels and on the availability of treatment and analytical technologies. Aesthetic objectives (e.g., for taste or odour) are provided when they play a role in determining whether consumers will consider the water drinkable. Operational guidance values are provided when a substance may interfere with or impair a treatment process or technology (e.g., turbidity interfering with chlorination or UV disinfection) or adversely affect drinking water infrastructure (e.g., corrosion of pipes) (Health Canada, 2022).
Health Canada publishes guidelines and other information on the website Drinking water quality in Canada.
Guidelines
Technical Documents
Microbiological Parameters
Bacteriological Quality
- Enterococci
- Escherichia coli
- Guidance on the Use of Heterotrophic Plate Counts in Canadian Drinking Water Supplies
- Total Coliforms
Chemical/Physical Parameters
- Aluminum
- Ammonia
- Antimony
- Arsenic
- Asbestos
- Atrazine
- Barium
- Benzene
- Benzo[a]pyrene
- Boron
- Bromate
- Bromoxynil
- Cadmium
- Calcium
- Carbon tetrachloride
- Chloramines
- Chloride
- Chlorine
- Chlorite and chlorate
- Chlorophenols
- Chlorpyrifos
- Chromium
- Colour
- Copper
- Cyanide
- Cyanobacterial toxins
- Dicamba
- Dichlorobenzenes
- Dichloroethane, 1,2
- Dichloroethylene,1,1
- Dichloromethane
- Dichlorophenol,2,4- (see Chlorophenols)
- Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4
- Dimethoate and Omethoate
- Dioxane-1,4
- Diquat
- Ethylbenzene (see Toluene, ethylbenzene and the xylenes)
- Fluoride
- Formaldehyde
- Glyphosate
- Haloacetic acids
- Hardness
- Iron
- Lead
- Magnesium
- Malathion
- Manganese
- MCPA – (2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic Acid)
- Mercury
- Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE)
- Metribuzine
- Microcystin-LR (see Cyanobacterial toxins)
- N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)
- Nitrate/nitrite
- Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)
- Odour
- Pentachlorophenol (see Chlorophenols)
- Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
- Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)
- pH
- Selenium
- Silver
- Sodium
- Strontium
- Sulphate
- Sulphide
- Taste
- Tetrachloroethylene
- Tetrachlorophenol,2,3,4,6- (see Chlorophenols)
- Toluene (see Toluene, ethylbenzene and the xylenes)
- Toluene, ethylbenzene and the xylenes
- Total dissolved solids
- Trichloroethylene
- Trichlorophenol,2,4,6- (see Chlorophenols)
- Trihalomethanes
- Turbidity
- Uranium
- Vinyl chloride
- Xylenes (see Toluene, ethylbenzene and the xylenes)
- Zinc
Screening Values
- diazinon
- diuron
- Drinking water screening value for Iodide – Technical Summary
- Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)
- Perchlorate
- Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
- Sulfolane
Radiological Parameters
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Health Canada Documents for Public Review & Comment
Health Canada Guidance Documents
Federal Drinking Water Systems
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Health Canada Guidance Documents
Health Canada works with the provinces, territories and federal agencies to establish the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. Over the years, new methodologies and approaches have led Health Canada, in collaboration with the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water, to develop a new type of document, guidance documents, to provide advice and guidance on issues related to drinking water quality for parameters that do not require a formal Guideline for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
Guidance documents are developed to provide operational or management guidance related to specific drinking water-related issues (e.g., boil water advisories), to make health risk assessment information available when a guideline is not deemed necessary (Health Canada, 2020).
Guidance Documents
- Guidance on waterborne pathogens in drinking water
- Guidance on the Temperature Aspects of Drinking Water
- Guidance Document: Overview of the Microbiological Aspects of Drinking Water Quality
- Guidance on Natural Organic Matter in Drinking Water
- Guidance on the Use of Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment in Drinking Water
- Guidance on Controlling Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
- Guidance on Chloral Hydrate in Drinking Water
- Guidance on Monitoring the Biological Stability of Drinking Water in Distribution Systems
- Guidance for Issuing and Rescinding Boil Water Advisories in Canadian Drinking Water Supplies
- Guidance for Issuing and Rescinding Drinking Water Avoidance Advisories in Emergency Situations
- Guidance on Potassium from Water Softeners
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Health Canada Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality
Health Canada Documents for Public Review & Comment
Federal Drinking Water Systems
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Lead in Drinking Water
The following links provide information regarding lead in drinking water and how to minimize exposure through line replacement, flushing, treatment and sampling programs.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Guidance Document for Public Consultation
Community Communication
- Communicating about Lead Service Lines
- Daily cleaning tips to clean your home’s drinking water pipes
- Drinking water: What about lead?
- Finding lead pipes
- How to clean your faucet aerator
- How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System & Plumbing Products
- How to know if you have a lead water pipe
- How to replace your lead pipes
- How to test your water for lead
- Information for Property Owners about Lead Water Service Line Replacement
- Lead Communications
- Lead and Drinking Water: Talking with Your Community
- Lead in Drinking Water: Fact Sheet
- Together, Let’s Get the Lead Out!
- Water Filter Guide
Lead Service Line Replacement
- Approaches to Lead Service Line Replacement
- Collaborating to Replace Lead Service Lines Webinar: Filter Effectiveness
- Communicating about Lead Service Lines
- Coordinating and Implementing Replacement of Lead Service Lines
- Digging Deep – Searching Decades of National Records to Find Lead Service Lines and Goosenecks
- Encouraging Customer-Initiated LSL Replacement Webinar: Two Case Studies
- Engaging Communities in Planning and Communicating about LSL Replacement Webinar
- Equity Considerations in LSL Replacement Programs Webinar
- High‐Velocity Household and Service Line Flushing Following LSL Replacement
- How to check your water service line material
- How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System & Plumbing Products
- Identifying Service Line Material
- Implications for Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water Rule
- Information for Property Owners about Lead Water Service Line Replacement
- Intensive flushing to clean your home’s drinking water pipes following a LSL replacement
- Introduction to Lead and Lead Service Line Replacement
- Lead in Water and Full Lead Service Line Replacement
- Lead Service Line Identification and Replacement: Introduction to the Series
- Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Funding
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Legal Factors
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Outreach Materials
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Plan Development
- Lead Service Line Replacement Practices
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Vital Tips from Leading Utility Managers
- Lead Service Lines Frequently Asked Questions
- Managing Lead in Drinking Water
- Managing Lead in Pipe Scales – Understanding How Water Quality Affects Lead Release
- Mapping Lead Service Lines: Charting a Path to Engage a Community Webinar
- Mapping Lead Service Line Probability in Small Water Systems
- Preparing a Lead Service Line Inventory
- Q&A from Lead Service Line Replacement: Vital Tips from Leading Utility Managers
- RCAP, Small Water Systems and Lead Service Line Inventories Webinar
- Replacing lead service lines at Denver Water
- Replacing Lead Service Lines in Early Learning Environments Webinar
- Strategies to Obtain Customer Acceptance of Complete Lead Service Line Replacement
- Understanding Lead Service Line Replacement Techniques
- Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water
Managing & Minimizing Exposure
- 3Ts for Child Care Facilities: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
- 3Ts for Public Water Utilities: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
- 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
- 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Toolkit
- 3Ts for Tribal Schools: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
- Aggregation of Lead Phosphate Particles: Implication for Lead Removal in Tap Water
- Chloride to Sulfate Mass Ratio and Galvanic Connection Changes – Impact on Lead Leaching
- Daily cleaning tips to clean your home’s drinking water pipes
- Finding lead pipes
- Flint Water Crisis: Can It Happen in Canada?
- Guidance on Controlling Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
- Guide for Small Community Water Suppliers and Local Health Officials on Lead in Drinking Water
- How to clean your faucet aerator
- Identify and Remove Sources of Lead
- Identifying Service Line Material
- Intensive flushing to clean your home’s drinking water pipes
- Lead and Copper Corrosion: An Overview of WRF Research
- Lead and Copper Corrosion Control in New Construction
- Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring and Reporting Guidance for Public Water Systems
- Lead and Copper Rule Potential Regulatory Changes, Corrosion Chemistry, and Stakeholder Communication
- Lead and Copper Rule Revisions White Paper
- Lead & Water Quality
- Lead in Drinking Water: Homes and Schools
- Lead in School Drinking Water: Approaching a Public Health Issue from an Occupational Hygiene Perspective
- Lead (IV) Oxide Formation and Stability in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
- Lead Safe Toolkit for Home-Based Child Care Webinar Series – Lead in Drinking Water
- Minimize Your Risk of Lead Exposure
- Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Evaluation Technical Recommendations
- Poisoned Pipelines: What Can Be Learned from the Catastrophe in Flint, Michigan?
- Proposed Revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule
- Public Health and Industry: Partners In Reducing Lead Exposure
- Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water
- Water Filter Guide
- When to Make a Corrosion Control Treatment Change
Sources of Lead in Drinking Water & Health Information
- Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water
- Childhood Lead Exposure
- Drinking water: What about lead?
- Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for Lead
- Is there Lead in my Drinking Water? Brochure
- Lead & Copper
- Lead Fact Sheet
- Lead in Drinking Water Fact Sheet
- Lead in Drinking Water – NSF Certified Filters
- Sources of Lead in Drinking Water
- Sources of Lead: Water
- Water Talk – Lead in drinking water
Standards
- AWWA C810-17 REPLACEMENT AND FLUSHING OF LEAD SERVICE LINES
- INTERNAL CORROSION CONTROL AND LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT DVD
- M58 INTERNAL CORROSION CONTROL IN WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, SECOND EDITION
Testing
- 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
- Assessing Portable Analyzers for Lead Testing in School Drinking Water
- Evaluation of Lead Line Sampling Strategies
- Lead Sampling Protocols for School Drinking Water
- Testing for Lead In School Drinking Water: A Summary of Sampling Protocols
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Legionella & Legionnaires’ Disease (Legionellosis)
Legionella is a naturally occurring waterborne bacteria that can be found in building water systems such as water storage containers or pipes. Exposure normally occurs when contaminated water is aerosolized and inhaled into the lungs.
This collection provides information on the risks posed by legionella to water systems and the preventative management, standards and sampling/testing of the bacteria in building water systems. Health information and outbreak case studies for Legionnaire’s Disease (Legionellosis) and Pontiac Fever are included.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Information on Legionnaires’ Disease (Legionellosis) & Pontiac Fever
- History, Mystery, and Discovery: 40 Years of Legionnaires’ Disease
- Legionella
- Legionella: Drinking Water Health Advisory
- Legionella (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever)
- Legionella: NCCEH
- Legionella: Who’s Addressing the Risks in Canada?
- Legionellosis Fact Sheet
- Legionellosis (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever)
- Legionnaires’ Disease: CDC
- Legionnaires’ Disease: CCOHS
CDC Toolkits
- Toolkit on Developing a Water Management Program to Reduce Legionella Growth and Spread in Buildings
- Toolkit for Controlling Legionella in Common Sources of Exposure
- Sampling for Legionella/Environmental Assessments/Developing Sample Plan Videos
Prevention with Building Water Management Programs
- Public Health Ontario – Legionella Questions and Answers
- Legionella Educational Series: Understanding Building Risk Factors
- Six Steps To Develop A Water Safety Plan And Comply With ASHRAE Standard 188-2015 – Legionella – A Canadian Perspective
- Communicable Disease Control: Legionella Outbreak Investigation and Control
- Conducting and Interpreting the Environmental Assessment
- Control of Legionella bacteria in the Public Services and Procurement Canada real property portfolio
- Cooling Tower Registries and Building Water Management Plans: Strategies to combat Legionnaires’ Disease
- Information Bulletin: Workplace Health and Safety Guideline – Legionella
- Legionella and the prevention of legionellosis
- Legionella Ecology and an Introduction to Environmental Health and Engineering
- Legionella Environmental Assessment Form
- Legionella Questions and Answers: Public Health Ontario
- Legionella – Quick Facts
- Legionnaires’ Disease Prevention: Making a Splash with Safe Water
- Legionnaires’ Disease: Use water management programs in buildings to help prevent outbreaks
- Legionellosis: Cause and Controls
- Monitoring Your Building Water
- Photos of Various Types of Cooling Towers
- Preventing Legionnaires’ Disease: Environmental Health Expertise Is Key
- Preventing Occupational Exposure to Legionellapdf icon
- Prevention with Water Management Programs
- Procedures for Identifying Cooling Towers
- Turning the Tide: The Role of Water Management to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease
Photos of Cooling Towerspdf icPreventing Legionnaires’ Disease: A Training on Legionella Water Management Progr
Extended Shut-Down and Reduced Occupancy Procedures for Building Water Management
- Building Shutdown and Re-opening during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Guidance for managing Legionella in building water systems during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation
- Information on Maintaining or Restoring Water Quality in Buildings with Low or No Use
Sampling & Testing Kits
- How to Make a Sampling Plan for Legionellosis Outbreak Investigations
- How to Sample Cooling Towers during Legionellosis Outbreak Investigations
- How to Sample Potable Water during Legionellosis Outbreak Investigations
- How to Sample Spas and Fountains during Legionellosis Outbreak Investigations
- Legiolert: For detection of Legionella pneumophila
- Public Health Ontario: Testing Resources
- Sample Data Sheet
- Sampling Procedure and Potential Sampling Sites
Standards, Codes & By-laws
- ANSI/ASHRAE STANDARD 188-2018, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems
- ASHRAE Guideline 12-2020: Managing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems
- Read-Only Versions of ASHRAE Standards
- ASHRAE 188: Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems: Questions and Answers
- MD 15161-2013 Control of Legionella in Mechanical Systems
- National Building Code of Canada 2015
- National Plumbing Code of Canada 2015
Online Training Modules
Surveillance Data & Outbreak Investigation
- A Large Community Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease Associated With a Cooling Tower in New York City, 2015
- Current and Emerging Legionella Diagnostics for Laboratory and Outbreak Investigations
- Legionella: A reemerging pathogen
- Legionella Regulation, Cooling Tower Positivity and Water Quality in the Quebec Context
- Legionnaires’ Disease Cases at a Large Community Hospital—Common and Underdiagnosed
- Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak at a Long-Term Care Facility Caused by a Cooling Tower Using an Automated Disinfection System
- Legionellosis following water birth in a hot tub in a Canadian neonate
- Legionellosis: Key Considerations for Case and Environmental Exposure Investigation
- Multiple Sources of the Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in Genesee County, Michigan
- Outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever 2006–2017
- Public Health Ontario: Infectious Disease Trends
- Racial Disparities and Legionnaires’ Disease
- Strategies to Combat Legionnaires’ Disease – Outbreak Investigation and Preventive Policy
- The influence of climate change on waterborne disease and Legionella: A review
- Uncertainties associated with assessing the public health risk from Legionella
- Vital Signs: Deficiencies in Environmental Control Identified in Outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease
- Vital Signs: Health Care–Associated Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Data from 20 States and a Large Metropolitan Area
- Water Management Gaps and Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks
Webinars
- Customer Messaging on Opportunistic Pathogens in Plumbing Systems
- Interpreting the Environmental Assessment for Legionellosis Outbreaks
- Legionella Ecology & Intro to Environmental Health & Engineering for Outbreaks
- Legionella Management and Guidelines
- Management Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Legionella
- Managing Legionella Risk in Buildings through Water Safety Management Planning Seminar Recordings
- State of the Science of Opportunistic Pathogens in Premise Plumbing
- Strategies to Combat Legionnaires’ Disease – Outbreak Investigation and Preventative Policy
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Managing Legionella Risk in Buildings Through Water Safety Management Planning Seminar
Safe Drinking Water: Lessons from Outbreaks Course Resources
Responsibilities Under the Statuary Standard of Care – Safe Drinking Water Act Course Resources
Photo from https://ncceh.ca/environmental-health-in-canada/health-agency-projects/legionella
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Small Drinking Water Systems Resources
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) is committed to supporting the owners and operators of Ontario’s small systems. These technical resources were collected for small water system owners/operators.
For further support, the following contacts will assist you:
- WCWC can assist with your training needs.
- OWWCO (Ontario Water Wastewater Certification Office) will accept inquiries regarding licensing and renewals.
- Your local Public Health Unit or Public Health Inspector for more information on operation requirements, inspections and compliance for your small drinking water system.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Guides
- 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
- An Introduction to Operating a Small Drinking Water System
- Arsenic Treatment Technology Evaluation Handbook for Small Systems
- Asset Management: A Handbook for Small Water Systems
- Control and Mitigation of Drinking Water Losses in Distribution Systems
- Cross-Connection Control: A Best Practices Guide
- Cross-Connection Control Manual
- Distribution Systems: A Best Practices Guide
- Drinking Water Security for Small Systems Serving 3,300 or Fewer Persons
- Drought Planning for Small Community Water Systems
- Guidance For Safe Drinking Water In Canada: From Intake To Tap
- Improving Security through Capacity Development: Capacity Self-Assessments
- New Small Drinking Water Systems Program in Ontario Backgrounder
- Ontario Drinking Water Regulations for Small Systems
- Point-of-Use or Point-of-Entry Treatment Options for Small Drinking Water Systems
- Preventive Maintenance Tasks for Small Public Water Systems Using Ground Water
- Providing Safe Drinking Water to Cisterns at Non-Residential Drinking Water Systems Serving Designated Facilities
- Removing Multiple Contaminants from Drinking Water: Issues to Consider
- Setting Small Drinking Water System Rates For A Sustainable Future
- Small Drinking Water Systems: Operator’s Guide
- Small Drinking Water Systems Risk Assessment Guideline
- Small Drinking Water Systems: Who Does What in Ontario?
- Strategic Planning: A Handbook for Small Water Systems
- Strategies for Saving Energy at Public Water Systems
- Taking Stock of your Water System: A Simple Asset Inventory for Very Small Drinking Water Systems
- Talking to Your Customers About Chronic Contaminants in Drinking Water: A Best Practices Guide
- Talking to Your Decision Makers: A Best Practices Guide
- Water Audits and Water Loss Control For Public Water Systems
- Water Availability and Variability Strategies For Public Water Systems
- Water System Owner Roles and Responsibilities: A Best Practices Guide
Regulations
- O. Reg. 169/03: Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards
- O. Reg. 170/03: Drinking Water Systems
- O. Reg. 319/08: SMALL DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
- Practices for Collection and Handling of Drinking Water Samples
- Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario
- Required qualifications to operate, test or sample drinking water systems
- Technical support document for Ontario drinking water standards, objectives and guidelines
Sampling and Analysis
- Advice for the Operation of Potable Water Field Test Equipment
- How to analyze turbidity
- How to analyze free chlorine residual
- How to analyze total chlorine residual
- How to analyze iron in a drinking water sample
- How to analyze pH and temperature of a drinking water sample
- How to analyze UV absorbance and transmittance
- List of Licensed Laboratories
- Testing Your Water
Operator Tools
- Chlorine Dilution Calculator
- Cost Evaluation of Point-of-Use and Point-of-Entry Treatment Units for Small Systems: Cost Estimating Tool and Users Guide Users Guide
- Drinking Water Treatability Database
- Electronic Preventive Maintenance Logs
- Energy Use Assessment Tool
- Knowledge Retention Tool Spreadsheet for Small Water Systems
- Preventive Maintenance Card File for Small Public Water Systems Using Ground Water
- Rural Water Quality Information Tool
- The Check Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS)
- Well Disinfection Tool
Training
- How to Maintain Your Trained Person Designation
- Steps to Become a Limited System Operator
- Steps to Become a Trained Person: Operators of Small Drinking Water Systems Serving Designated Facilities
- Water Quality Challenges in Small Drinking Water Systems in Southern Ontario
- Water Quality Training Learning Modules for Micro-Systems
Webinars
- British Columbia Small Water Systems webinar series
- USEPA Small Drinking Water Systems webinar series
Videos
- Diaphragm Pump Maintenance
- Disinfection for Micro-Systems
- Drinking Water Storage Tanks
- Peristaltic Pump Tubing Change
- UV Bulb Replacement
- Small On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems
- Ultraviolet and Reverse Osmosis for Micro-Systems
- Water Filtration and Ion Exchange for Micro-Systems
- Water Wells for Micro-Systems
- WCWC How-To Videos
Fact Sheets
- Caring for a Cistern
- How to Ensure Your Water is Safe
- POU / POE Systems
- Product Certifications – How do I know if a product is certified?
- 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
- Small Drinking Water Systems under the Health Protection and Promotion Act – Operator Training
- Small Drinking Water Systems under the Health Protection and Promotion Act – Responding to Adverse Events
- 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 – Treatment Options
- Treatment Technologies for Small Drinking Water Systems
- Ultraviolet disinfection technical bulletin
- Understanding microbial indicators for drinking water assessment: Interpretation of test results and public health significance
- Understanding Your Well Water Test Results
- Water Treatment
Forms
- Laboratory Services Notification (LSN) – Small Drinking Water Systems
- Notice of Adverse Test Results and Issue Resolution – Small Drinking Water Systems (MOHLTC)
- Notice to Operate or Reopen a Small Drinking Water System
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Small Systems Zone – Walkerton Clean Water Centre
Public Health Inspector Resources
Free Small Systems Training from the Government of Canada
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Entry-Level Course for Drinking Water Operators Course Resources
This post provides resources for WCWC’s Entry-Level Course for Drinking Water Operators (ELCDWO).
Supporting Documents
Videos
Visit our course catalog to view all our training courses and the upcoming schedule or select the course overview below to learn more about this course.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Disponible en français.
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