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
Read More
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
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
Disponible en français.
Read More
Free Small Systems Training from the Government of Canada
‘This site contains water quality training materials that provides basic information that can help a person learn how to operate and maintain a micro-system (water systems serving up to and including 25 people). The training has been developed by Canadian federal departments as part of a multi-barrier approach to providing safe drinking water in areas of federal jurisdiction, including on federal lands, in federal facilities and/or in First Nations communities. This includes Federal government employees working in Canada, as well as Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Forces personnel, and Canadian diplomatic mission staff working abroad.
The training is provided in two parts: the main training is in a video or e-Learning format with the second part being an accompanying document that can be printed for more in-depth training.’
Water Quality Training Modules
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Read MoreCorrespondence and Online Training Opportunity: Operation of Small Drinking Water Systems
WCWC offers a popular course, Operation of Small Drinking Water Systems, online and through correspondence. Alicia McIntyre, Training Support Representative, tells us more about this course, which is perfectly suited to the current COVID-19 pandemic, but is available year-round.
1. What topics are covered in this course?
There are four main areas covered under this course.
• Relevant legislation
• Water quality
• Water sources and methods of treatment
• Water sampling: observation, results, reporting and corrective action
2. Who is the target audience?
The target audience is participants seeking “trained person” designation under O.Reg. 170/03.
3. When is the course available? Is there a deadline to finish it?
The course is available anytime by correspondence or online. A participant has one year from date of registration to successfully complete it.
4. Are there Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available for this course?
Yes, a participant receives 1.8 CEUs upon successfully completing the course.
5. How do I register?
A participant can register anytime by following this link: https://wcwc.ca/small-systems-zone/operation-of-small-drinking-water-systems-course/. If they have any problems registering they can call WCWC directly.
To learn more about this course, visit wcwc.ca/registration or contact Alicia McIntyre at amcintyre@wcwc.ca or 1-866-515-0550 ext. 311.
Read More
SMALL SYSTEMS HANDS-ON WORKSHOP COMING TO PETERBOROUGH
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) is pleased to be hosting a small systems hands-on workshop geared especially to the owners and operators of small systems defined under Ontario Regulation 170/03 and Ontario Regulation 319/08. The workshop will provide opportunities for training that can be used to maintain the Trained Person designation.
Participants will choose three of four modules focusing on the operation and maintenance of small drinking water systems, earning 0.6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs.) Modules are led by industry experts. Planned modules include:
Participants at a 2018 Small Systems Hands-On Workshop
• Sampling, Testing, Adverse Test Results and Corrective Actions
• Small Systems: Maintaining Chemical Pumps — NEW!
• Ultraviolet Disinfection and Maintenance
• Well Maintenance
The workshop will be held on March 25, 2020, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in Peterborough.
For the first time, WCWC is offering a 10 per cent early-bird discount for registrants. The cost to register is $230.00 + HST until February 12, 2020.
For more information, or to register, please visit wcwc.ca/registration or contact us at 866-515-0550 or training@wcwc.ca.
Read More
Small Systems Hands-On Workshop Coming To Huntsville
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) is pleased to be hosting a small systems hands-on workshop geared especially to the owners and operators of small systems defined under Ontario Regulation 170/03 and Ontario Regulation 319/08. The workshop will provide opportunities for training that can be used to maintain the Trained Person designation.
The workshop will consist of a choice of five training modules focusing on the operation and maintenance of small drinking water systems. Participants will choose three modules and rotate through sessions, earning 0.6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs.) Planned modules include:
- Completing Logbook and Logsheet Entries
- Sampling, Testing, Adverse Test Results and Corrective Actions
- Small System Filters
- Ultraviolet Disinfection Theory and Maintenance
- Well Maintenance
Modules are led by industry experts, including WCWC’s Small Systems Specialist, Stephanie Meades. Stephanie supports small drinking water system operators across Ontario, with a focus on Ontario Regulation 319/08 systems.
The workshop will be held on November 5, 2019, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in Huntsville. The
Participants at the 2018 Small Systems Hands-On Workshop
cost to register is $203.00 + HST.
For more information, or to register, please visit wcwc.ca/registration or contact us at 866-515-0550 or training@wcwc.ca
Read More