Public Drinking Water
How can I be certain the water from a public water system is safe?
Public Health Inspectors and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) Inspectors monitor public drinking water systems to ensure a safe water supply. If water supplied by a system is unsafe either the system operator or public health will issue a boil water or drinking water advisory to protect the health of the system users. If your residence is connected to a private communal water system that does not meet the small drinking water system criteria you can contact the system operator to find out how the system is monitored to ensure safe drinking water.
Small Drinking Water Systems (SDWS)
If your business or premises 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 small drinking water system. Systems serving designated facilities are not considered small drinking water systems and remain under MOECC regulation.
Small drinking water systems are regulated under Ontario SDWS Regulation 319. Public health inspectors (PHIs) conduct an on-site risk assessment for every small drinking water system. The system will be categorized as low, medium or high risk and the PHI will issue a directive outlining what the owner/operator of the system must do to keep the drinking water safe. The directive may include, but is not limited to, water testing requirements, treatment requirements, and operator raining.
SDWS are monitored by Public Health to ensure all requirements are being met and all adverse test results are reported to Public Health. Boil Water or Drinking Water advisories may be issued by the operator or Public Health to protect the health of the water system users in the case of an adverse bacteriological result, an adverse observation or an outbreak associated with the water system.
SDWS Resources, Documentation, and Requirements
Please see the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for more information on SDWS, related regulations, guidance documents, and fact sheets. If you are not sure whether your system is a SDWS or have further questions, please contact the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
The Government of Ontario Central Forms Site provides the following SDWS forms:
Other Resources
List of accredited drinking water laboratories (MOECC)
Chlorine Dilution Calculator - Public Health Ontario
Safe Drinking Water Act
Clean Water Act
SDWS Training and Education Resources
Grey Bruce Health Unit
The Grey Bruce Health Unit will be offering two workshops for owners and operators of Small Drinking Water Systems on March 4, 2019 and April 4, 2019. There is no cost to participate. Topics will include: roles and responsibilities of owner/operators, legal obligations, operational requirements, and more. Please see the pamphlet for additional information.
Registration deadline is February 28, 2019.
Small Drinking Water System Owner/Operator Workshop
SDWS Operator Guide 2018
If you would like to receive our SDWS newsletter and email notifications, please register for our contact list by sending an email to the Grey Bruce Health Unit. Please contact us if you do not have an email address.\
Walkerton Clean Water Centre
Please see the Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) for training courses for SDWS (O.Reg. 319) operators. Fact sheets and other resources can be found on the WCWC website under the small systems zone (see My Resources for fact sheets) and on this webpage. For more information you can contact the WCWC by email inquiry@wcwc.ca or phone 519-881-2003 / 1-866-515-0550.
Boil Water Advisories or Orders, and Drinking Water Advisories
Boil Water Advisories, Boil Water Orders, and Drinking Water Advisories are public notices issued when conditions indicate that public drinking water is not safe for use. The type of notice issued will depend upon the problem with the drinking water and will indicate whether you can continue to use the water after appropriate treatment or if an alternative source of water is required.