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
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 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
Operator Tools
Drinking Water Treatability Database
Electronic Preventive Maintenance Logs
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)
Training
How to Maintain Your Trained Person Designation
Steps to Become a Limited System Operator
Water Quality Challenges in Small Drinking Water Systems in Southern Ontario
Water Quality Training Learning Modules for Micro-Systems
Videos
Disinfection for Micro-Systems
Peristaltic Pump Tubing Change
Small On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems
Ultraviolet and Reverse Osmosis for Micro-Systems
Water Filtration and Ion Exchange for Micro-Systems
Fact Sheets
How to Ensure Your Water is Safe
Information for you about Drinking Water Treatments
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 – 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 Your Well Water Test Results
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
Regulatory Resources for Ontario Systems
Public Health Inspector Resources
Wednesday’s with Warren: Water Movement Operator Training Videos
Free Small Systems Training from the Government of Canada
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Public Health Inspector Resources
Guides
Drinking Water Quality in Canada
Ontario Public Health Standards: Protocols and Guidelines
Drinking Water Haulage Guidance Document
Practices for the Collection and Handling of Drinking Water Samples
Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario
Public Health Inspectors Guide
Response to Adverse Drinking Water Quality Incidents
Small Drinking Water Systems: Operator’s Guide
Small Drinking Water Systems: Who Does What in Ontario?
Technical Support Document for Ontario Drinking Water Standards, Objectives and Guidelines
Protocols & Guidelines
Operational Approaches for Recreational Water Guideline, 2018
Recreational Water Protocol, 2019
Recreational Water Reference Document, 2019
Safe Drinking Water and Fluoride Monitoring Protocol, 2019
Small Drinking Water Systems Risk Assessment Guideline, 2018
Regulations
Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7
Ontario Water Resources Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.40
O. Reg. 170/03: DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
O. Reg. 319/08: SMALL DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 32
Sampling & Analysis
Bacteriological Analysis of Water: Multiple Sample Requisition for Official Agencies
Drinking Water Testing – Official Agencies | Public Health Ontario
Drinking Water Testing – Private Citizen
Potability of Water Release Form
Practices for the Collection and Handling of Drinking Water Samples
Recreational Water Facilities and Public Pools Spas
Requisition for Specimen Containers and Supplies
Sewage, Suspected Sewage Contamination – Water
Water Testing – Who to Contact
Water Sample Analysis – Public Health Inspectors Guide
Well Water Testing (Private Drinking Water)
Arsenic from community water fluoridation: quantifying the effect
Emergency Management : Keeping Food and Water Safe after a Flood
Zika Virus Infection and the Flint, Michigan, Water Crisis: A Study in Surprising Commonalities
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Find Licensed Well Contractors
Laboratory Accreditation and Licensing
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Ministry of the Environment – District Locator
Ministry of the Environment – Drinking Water
Legionella
Environmental Microbiology Investigation Requisition Form
Infectious Diseases Protocol – Appendix A: Disease – Specific Chapters – Legionellosis
Legionella and the prevention of legionellosis
Legionella: Introduction of molecular screening of environmental water samples
Legionella (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever)
Legionella: questions and answers, 2nd edition
Legionella – Respiratory PCR and Culture
Legionellosis in Ontario, January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018
Legionellosis (Legionella, Legionnaires Disease)
Presentations
Legionellosis: Key Considerations for Case and Environmental Exposure Investigation
Photo from www.regionofwaterloo.ca
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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
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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.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Open Consultations
Recently Closed Consultations
- Consultation: Guidelines for recreational water quality: Physical, aesthetic and chemical characteristics
- Consultation: Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality: Indicators of Fecal Contamination
- Consultation: Proposed guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality for dimethoate and omethoate
- 4-Chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic Acid (MCPA) in Drinking Water: Guideline Technical Document for Public Consultation
Past 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
- Consultation – Cadmium in Drinking Water
- Consultation – Guidance on Natural Organic Matter in Drinking Water
- Consultation – Guidance on the use of Enterococci bacteria as indicators in Canadian drinking water supplies
- Consultation on 1,4-dioxane in drinking water
- Consultation on aluminum in drinking water
- Consultation on Barium in drinking water
- Consultation on Chloramines in drinking water
- Consultation on copper in drinking water
- Consultation on enteric viruses in drinking water
- Consultation on Escherichia coli (E. coli) in Drinking Water
- Consultation on guidance on the use of quantitative microbial risk assessment in drinking water
- Consultation on strontium in drinking water
- Consultation on the review of guideline technical document – Total coliforms in drinking water
- Consultation on uranium in drinking water
- Consultation on uranium in drinking water
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Proposed Amendments to the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations
Federal Drinking Water Systems
Regulatory Resources for Ontario Systems
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Well Construction and Licensing
The licensing of well contractors and technicians promotes and supports enforcement of safe environmental practices to maintain the health of Ontario’s groundwater resources. You will need a well technician license or employ a person with a well technician license to construct, maintain, repair or upgrade a well.
This collection of resources was assembled for well contractors, technicians and anyone interested in learning the rules for constructing, maintaining or making repairs to a water well.
Rules for the person who is constructing a new water supply well.
You can also find the full set of requirements for well construction and licensing at:
Find a Contractor
- Find Licensed Well Contractors – Use this directory to find licensed well contractors.
- Find an Ontario Ground Water Association (OGWA) Member Contractor in your Area – Use this directory to find a contractor.
Licensing & Records
- Well Contractor License – How to apply for and renew a well contractor license so you can operate a well construction business.
- Well Technician License – How to apply for and renew a well technician license, as well as add a new class(es).
- Well Records – How to complete, submit or get a copy of a well record.
Technical Bulletins for Ontario’s Wells Regulation
- Completing the New Well’s Structure
- Completing the Structure of the New Test Hole or Dewatering Well
- Constructing New Multi-Level Monitoring Test Holes
- Constructing New Test Holes & Dewatering Wells
- Constructing New Test Holes & Dewatering Wells in Operation for No Longer than 180 Days
- Constructing New Uncased Test Holes & Dewatering Wells in Operation for No Longer than 30 Days
- Exempted Activities Performed on Wells, Including Test Holes & Dewatering Wells
- Flowing Test Holes and Dewatering Wells
- Flowing Wells
- Installing Equipment in a Well
- Licensing (Class 5) for individuals who Perform Tests on Wells
- New Construction of the Hole, Casing, Well Screen and Annular Space
- Shallow Works Test Holes and Dewatering Wells
- Site Considerations & Initial Planning for Test Holes & Dewatering Wells
- Siting a New Well
- Test Hole and Dewatering Well Licensing
- Test Hole & Dewatering Well Maintenance
- Test Hole & Dewatering Well Repairs & Alterations
- Test holes and dewatering wells – Requirements and best management practices
- Understanding the Meaning of Well, Test Hole and Dewatering Well
- Water Supply Wells: Requirements and Best Practices
- Well Abandonment: How to Plug and Seal a Test Hole or Dewatering Well
- Well Abandonment: How to Plug and Seal a Well
- Well Abandonment: When to Plug and Seal a Well
- Well Construction Licensing
- Well Disinfection
- Well Maintenance
- Well Record, Reporting & Tagging for a Test Hole & Dewatering Wells
- Well Repairs and Other Alterations
Well Technician Training
- Fleming College – Ontario Well Technician training courses at Fleming College including courses to obtain your license and courses to maintain your license.
- Lusk Geo Inc. – Provides training in groundwater, water wells, geothermal systems and Well Technician Licensing.
Associations
- Ontario Ground Water Association – a not for profit association consisting of professional members who are involved in the ground water industry in Ontario. They include — Well Drillers, Environmental/Geotechnical Drillers, Pump Installers, Manufacturers and Suppliers, as well as Scientists and Engineers. Included are the company owners as well as their employees.
- Canadian Water Quality Association – representing the Canadian water quality improvement industry.
- Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association – representing the onsite and decentralized wastewater industry in Ontario, including educators, regulators, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and other parties.
- Hydrogeologists Without Borders – a Canadian non-profit organization and registered charity, based in Calgary.
- Canadian National Ground Water Association – a Canadian non-profit consisting of members of the ground water industry across Canada.
- Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO) – governs the practice of professional geoscience in Ontario.
- Professional Engineers of Ontario – the licensing and regulating body for engineering in the province.
Water Testing
- Well Wise Water Testing Program– administered by the Ontario Ground Water Association. This program provides cost effective water testing for things other than bacteria in your water. Metals, minerals, salts, fuels, solvents, fluoride, mercury, sulfate, tannin/lignin, pesticides/herbicides, and glyphosates. Test bottles are shipped to you with return freight included. Not for Profit water testing.
- Public Health Unit (PHU) Testing – Find your local PHU for information on free well water testing for E. Coli and Coliform bacteria. Check your water spring, summer, and fall.
- List of Licensed Laboratories in Ontario – This is a list of laboratories licensed to perform drinking water tests in Ontario. Prior to submitting samples please contact the licensed laboratory for pricing .
- Testing Well Water – An instructional video on how to take an accurate sample of your well water for E. Coli and Coliform bacteria testing.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Photo from Luskgeo.com
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Read MorePractices for Collection and Handling of Drinking Water Samples
This guide provides information to anyone who collects and submits a sample to a licensed drinking water testing laboratory in Ontario, as well as to all licensed laboratories. This sampling guide was made so that the requirements of O. Reg. 248/03 section 9.(1)(a) can be met.
This document provides guidance for:
- water treatment plant owners/operators or anyone who may collect and submit a sample to a licensed drinking water testing laboratory in Ontario to meet Ontario’s environmental regulatory and approval requirements
- provincial officers sampling to verify the integrity of a drinking water system’s self-monitoring information, or in response to adverse water quality notifications
Practices for Collection and Handling of Drinking Water Samples
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Disponible en français.
Read MoreProcedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario
Disinfection of Drinking Water; A clear distinction is made between primary disinfection and secondary disinfection, which are often completely separate treatment processes and provide different outcomes. The former is intended to provide disinfection before the water is delivered to the first consumer and the latter ensures maintenance of a disinfectant residual throughout the distribution system.
This procedure is a supporting document for Ontario legislation and regulations related to drinking water and specific to water disinfection and any pre-disinfection processes that may be necessary to ensure effectiveness of disinfection. The Procedure is adopted by reference in the provisions in Schedules 1 and 2 in O. Reg. 170/03 that deal with requirements for primary and secondary disinfection.
Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Disponible en français.
Read MoreTechnical Support Document for Ontario Drinking Water Standards, Objectives and Guidelines
The primary purpose of the Ontario Drinking Water Standards, Objectives and Guidelines is to provide information for the protection of public health through the provision of safe drinking water.
This document is intended to provide supporting documentation for the Ontario Drinking-Water Quality Standards Regulation O. Reg. 169/03 and serve as a reference for the design and operation of water treatment plants to produce water that continuously satisfies the standards, objectives and guidelines of drinking-water quality. This document also makes reference to the Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Ontario.
Parameters and their associated standards and objectives are listed alphabetically in Tables 1 through 4. A brief description is provided for these parameters in Appendix A. Some parameters, such as alkalinity, pH and taste, which do not have specific objectives, are listed because for them there is an ideal condition or range for water treatment plant operation or aesthetic water quality.
Technical Support Document for Ontario Drinking Water Standards, Objectives and Guidelines
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Disponible en français.
Read MoreMinistry 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
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Disponible en français.
Read MoreWatermain Disinfection Procedure
‘This document outlines procedures for disinfecting water mains as part of an addition, modification, replacement, extension, planned maintenance, or emergency repair in a municipal residential drinking water system. The procedures are required to be followed in order to satisfy conditions imposed by the Director in a drinking water works permit. (MECP, 2020)’
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
2020 Watermain disinfection procedure
Watermain Disinfection Procedure Questions and Answers – February 19, 2021
2015 Watermain disinfection procedure
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