An Introduction to Operating a Small

Drinking Water SystemSafeguarding our health

Did you know that eff ective December 1, 2008, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) has oversight of small drinking water systems (SDWS) in Ontario? Two new regulations under the Health Protection and Promotion Act will come into force at this time.

Ontario Regulation 318/08 (Transitional - Small Drinking Water Systems) which carries forward the main requirements of Ontario Regulation 252/05 under the Safe Drinking Water Act. It will be in eff ect until a public health inspector (PHI) conducts a risk assessment of your SDWS and issues a binding directive with site-specifi c requirements, at which time Ontario Regulation 319/08 will apply to your SDWS.

Ontario Regulation 319/08 (Small Drinking Water Systems) sets out the new requirements that must be followed by each SDWS, such as minimum quarterly testing for E. coli and total coliforms, once a directive has been issued for the SDWS.

An Introduction to Operating a Small Drinking Water System

Do you operate a small drinking water system?

If your system makes drinking water available to the public and you do not get your drinking water from a municipal drinking water system, you may be an owner or operator of a SDWS.

Some examples are systems that supply: A sit down restaurant, hotel, motel, trailer park, camp ground, gas station, marina, place of worship, recreational facility, club or fraternal organization, or other facilities that provide the general public with access to a washroom, drinking water fountain or shower.

Contact your local public health unit if you may be operating a SDWS.

Remember… this brochure is an introduction and overview of the recent changes to Ontario’s small drinking water systems program.

It is only a summary of your legal •responsibilities as the owner or operator of a SDWS. You must refer to the requirements in the SDWS regulations and any directives issued under Ontario Regulation 319/08.

This brochure and related fact sheets have been prepared to help you learn your basic duties as an owner or operator of a SDWS. Did you know that…?

The public health inspector (PHI) is an •accredited public health professional who will be delivering the new SDWS program.

The PHI is one of the most important partners ºwho will work with you along with the MOHLTC and the MOE, to help you provide safe water to all users of your SDWS.

The PHI works for the local public health unit º(PHU) to keep your community safe. In addition to delivering the SDWS program and keeping our restaurants safe, The PHI also:

Educates the public on a variety of programs ºfor Rabies and West Nile Virus illnesses;

Investigates, consults and responds to health ºhazard complaints, adverse water quality incidents, spills, indoor air quality complaints;

Plays a role in the control of communicable •diseases such as food-related and water-related illnesses caused by E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella bacteria;The medical officer of health (usually called the •MOH) is the head of the local public health unit.

The MOH oversees the delivery of the Ontario ºPublic Health Standards and Protocols in partnership with a highly trained group of public health professionals in your community.

Who are some of the PHU staff? PHIs, ºdoctors, public health nurses, dentists, nutritionists, epidemiologists, and homecare specialists, just to name a few.

Your local public health unit is governed by a •board of health that comprises members from your regional or municipal areas.

place public health unit contact information here

Where can I find additional information?

Please remember…

This brochure is only a summary of your responsibilities as the owner or operator of a SDWS and is not a substitute for legal advice. For a more complete understanding of your legal responsibilities as an owner or operator, refer to Ontario Regulation 318/08 and Ontario Regulation 319/08 or any directives issued on your system. In addition, you should become familiar with the procedure documents produced to help you efficiently operate a SDWS:

Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water in •Ontario

Procedure for Corrective Action for Small •Drinking Water Systems that are Not Currently Using Chlorine

For general information about well water safety, ask your health unit staff for a copy of:

Keeping Your Well Water Safe to Drink: An •information kit to help you care for your well.

You may also find additional information on the following Ontario ministry websites:

Acts and Regulations: www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/index.html Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC): www.health.gov.on.ca

Current list of local public health units: •www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/contact/phu/phuloc_mn.html

Ministry of the Environment (MOE): www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/index.php

Current list of licensed laboratories: •www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/water/sdwa/ licensedlabs.php.

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA): www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/

How can you stay up-to-date on drinking water issues?

You can request that you be added to the mailing list to stay current on small drinking water systems by sending an email to: safewater.moh@ontario.ca

TO B

EGIN

…PROTECT

TREAT

MAINTAIN

MON

ITOR

NOTIFY

Do yo

u kno

w wh

ere t

o beg

in or

wh

at yo

ur re

spon

sibilit

ies ar

e fo

r ope

ratin

g you

r SDW

S?

Bef

ore

yo

u b

egin

, get

to

know

wha

t yo

ur

duti

es a

re u

nder

the

tw

o SD

WS

Reg

ulat

ions

: O

ntar

io R

egul

atio

n 31

8/08

(Tr

ansi

tion

al –

Sm

all D

rink

ing

Wat

er S

yste

ms)

and

Ont

ario

R

egul

atio

n 31

9/08

(Sm

all D

rink

ing

Wat

er

Syst

ems)

.•

Obt

ain

a co

py o

f th

e tw

o SD

WS

Reg

ulat

ions

fro

m E

-law

s•

Obt

ain

a co

py o

f th

e fa

ct s

heet

s th

at

expl

ain

your

res

pons

ibili

ties

und

er t

he

SDW

S re

gula

tion

s an

d as

k th

e P

HI

for

copi

es o

f th

e SD

WS

regu

lati

ons

and

dire

ctiv

esA

pply

a m

ulti

-bar

rier

app

roac

hO

btai

n co

pies

of

the

fact

she

ets

that

hav

e be

en d

evel

oped

for

eac

h st

ep b

elow

• P

rote

ct•

Tre

at•

Mai

nta

in•

Mo

nit

or

• N

oti

fy

Fac

t sh

eets

:G

et t

o kn

ow t

he la

w: S

DW

S R

egu

lati

ons

Get

to

know

the

law

: SD

WS

Dir

ecti

ves

Pro

tect

the

sou

rce

whe

re y

ou o

btai

n yo

ur

wat

er.

The

qua

lity

of y

our

sour

ce w

ater

will

de

term

ine

the

form

of

trea

tmen

t yo

u w

ill

use

to p

rote

ct t

he u

sers

.

Th

ere

are

two

typ

es o

f so

urc

es, g

rou

nd

w

ater

(se

cure

an

d n

on

-sec

ure

) an

d

surf

ace

wat

er:

1. G

rou

nd

wat

era)

Sec

ure

Gro

undw

ater

Pro

tect

you

r w

ell

• P

rope

rly

cons

truc

ted

and

wel

l m

aint

aine

d•

Ens

ure

pote

ntia

l pol

luti

on s

ourc

e is

ke

pt a

t a

dist

ance

b) N

on-s

ecur

e G

roun

dwat

er•

Thi

s m

ay in

clud

e sh

allo

w d

ug o

r bo

red

wel

ls•

Mai

ntai

n or

impr

ove

the

stru

ctur

e of

th

e w

ell t

o m

inim

ize

cont

amin

atio

n•

Ens

ure

pote

ntia

l pol

luti

on s

ourc

e is

ke

pt a

t a

dist

ance

2.

Su

rfac

e w

ater

• B

e aw

are

of p

oten

tial

sou

rces

of

pollu

tion

• A

ttem

pt t

o re

mov

e po

tent

ial p

ollu

tion

so

urce

s

Fac

t sh

eet:

Sou

rce

Wat

er: W

orki

ng

toge

ther

to

safe

guar

d ou

r he

alth

Tre

at y

our

wat

er b

ased

on

the

qual

ity

of

your

sou

rce

and

the

com

plex

ity

of t

he

dist

ribu

tion

sys

tem

.Yo

u m

ay n

eed

to t

reat

you

r dr

inki

ng w

ater

to

pro

vide

:•

Pro

per

disi

nfec

tion

or

rem

oval

of

harm

ful m

icro

-org

anis

ms;

• S

econ

dary

dis

infe

ctio

n to

kee

p w

ater

sa

fe t

hrou

ghou

t an

y di

stri

buti

on s

yste

m.

• R

emov

al o

f ch

emic

al a

nd p

hysi

cal

agen

ts

Sec

ure

Gro

un

dw

ater

Thi

s w

ater

is n

orm

ally

con

side

red

suit

able

to

be

used

wit

hout

tre

atm

ent.

How

ever

, the

ad

diti

on o

f tr

eatm

ent

will

pro

vide

add

itio

nal

prot

ecti

on t

o th

e us

ers

of y

our

SDW

S.S

urf

ace

wat

er a

nd

No

n-s

ecu

re

Gro

un

dw

ater

Filt

rati

on a

nd p

rim

ary

disi

nfec

tion

are

re

quir

ed t

o su

ppor

t re

mov

al o

f po

tent

ial

mic

ro-o

rgan

ism

s D

istr

ibu

tio

n S

yste

mSe

cond

ary

disi

nfec

tion

is r

equi

red

to

supp

ort

cont

inue

d pr

otec

tion

of

wat

er

thro

ugho

ut t

he d

istr

ibut

ion

syst

em.

Fac

t sh

eet:

Trea

tmen

t op

tion

s: W

orki

ng

toge

ther

to

safe

guar

d ou

r he

alth

Mai

nta

in y

our

SDW

S to

ens

ure

that

all

part

s ar

e co

nstr

ucte

d an

d op

erat

ing

prop

erly

to

prot

ect

the

qual

ity

of t

he

drin

king

wat

er.

As

an o

pera

tor,

you

mus

t:•

Mai

nta

in f

requ

ent

surv

eilla

nce

of t

he

syst

em’s

con

stru

ctio

n an

d op

erat

ion

(at

leas

t on

ce w

eekl

y)•

Ope

rate

you

r sy

stem

cap

ably

;•

Obt

ain

adeq

uate

tra

inin

g in

kee

ping

w

ith

the

com

plex

ity

of t

he s

yste

m;

• E

nsur

e co

ntin

uous

and

saf

e op

erat

ion

of t

he s

yste

m (

e.g.

rou

tine

mai

nten

ance

of

UV

bul

bs);

• R

espo

nd a

ppro

pria

tely

to

adve

rse

situ

atio

nsM

ain

tain

you

r le

vel o

f co

mpe

tenc

y by

en

suri

ng y

our

skill

s ar

e ap

prop

riat

e fo

r th

e sy

stem

you

ope

rate

. Thi

s is

as

easy

as:

• C

onsu

ltin

g w

ith

your

loca

l PH

I;•

Rea

ding

the

man

ufac

ture

r’s m

anua

ls

for

your

sys

tem

;•

Obt

aini

ng a

dequ

ate

trai

ning

fro

m t

he

man

ufac

ture

r, a

loca

l col

lege

or

thro

ugh

a th

ird

part

y, a

s ap

prov

ed b

y yo

ur lo

cal

PH

I.

Fac

t sh

eet:

Ope

rato

r Tr

ain

ing:

Wor

kin

g to

geth

er t

o sa

fegu

ard

our

heal

th

Mo

nit

or

the

drin

king

wat

er s

yste

m t

o en

sure

con

tinu

ous

prot

ecti

on o

f th

e dr

inki

ng w

ater

qua

lity.

Mo

nit

or

by c

olle

ctin

g an

d te

stin

g sa

mpl

es

of t

he d

rink

ing

wat

er f

or E

. col

i and

tot

al

colif

orm

s pr

ior

to s

easo

nal o

peni

ng, i

f cl

osed

for

mor

e th

an 6

0 da

ys a

nd

thro

ugho

ut o

pera

tion

of

your

SD

WS.

Mon

itor

you

r SD

WS

rout

inel

y fo

r th

e fo

llow

ing:

• T

urbi

dity

• C

hlor

ine

resi

dual

thr

ough

out

the

dist

ribu

tion

sys

tem

• K

now

whi

ch c

hem

ical

s to

rou

tine

ly t

est

• L

eaks

in t

he p

ipes

Mo

nit

or

the

sign

age

for

syst

ems

that

are

cu

rren

tly

post

ed.

Lice

nsed

labo

rato

ries

All

bact

eria

l and

che

mic

al s

ampl

es m

ust

be

test

ed a

t a

labo

rato

ry li

cens

ed b

y th

e M

inis

try

of t

he E

nvir

onm

ent

Fac

t sh

eet:

Sam

plin

g &

an

d te

stin

g: W

orki

ng

toge

ther

to

saf

egu

ard

our

heal

th

No

tify

the

use

rs im

med

iate

ly o

f an

y un

safe

co

ndit

ions

to

prot

ect

them

fro

m b

ecom

ing

ill.

You

shou

ld p

rovi

de u

sers

wit

h in

stru

ctio

ns

on h

ow t

o ob

tain

an

alte

rnat

e so

urce

of

drin

king

wat

er.

No

tify

the

loca

l med

ical

off

icer

of

heal

th

(MO

H)

of a

ny u

nsaf

e co

ndit

ions

wit

h yo

ur

SDW

S.•

Fol

low

any

oth

er r

equi

rem

ents

of

the

SDW

S R

egul

atio

ns o

r as

dir

ecte

d by

the

P

HI

and

MO

H.

No

tify

the

use

rs o

f th

e SD

WS

by:

• D

irec

t ve

rbal

not

ific

atio

n:U

sefu

l wit

h sm

all n

umbe

r of

use

rs.

• W

ritt

en in

stru

ctio

ns:

Use

to

prov

ide

addi

tion

al in

stru

ctio

ns

(e.g

., bo

il w

ater

or

use

bott

led

wat

er);

• P

osti

ng o

f si

gnag

e:P

lace

at

all a

cces

s po

ints

(e.

g., w

ater

fo

unta

ins

and

com

mon

tap

s)

Fac

t sh

eet:

Res

pon

se t

o ad

vers

e ev

ents

: Wor

kin

g to

geth

er t

o sa

fegu

ard

our

heal

th

Do yo

u kno

w wh

at, w

hy an

d ho

w to

PROTECT t

he so

urce

of

the w

ater

for y

our S

DWS?

Do yo

u kno

w wh

en, w

hy an

d ho

w yo

u sho

uld TREAT t

he

wate

r in yo

ur SD

WS?

Do yo

u kno

w wh

at, w

hy an

d ho

w to

MAINTAIN

the s

yste

m

equip

men

t, and

the w

ater

qu

ality

of yo

ur SD

WS?

Do yo

u kno

w wh

at, w

here

, why

an

d how

to MONITOR

the q

ualit

y of

the w

ater

in yo

ur SD

WS?

Do yo

u kno

w wh

o to N

OTIFY

when

ther

e is a

prob

lem w

ith

the w

ater

in yo

ur SD

WS?