While provincial and territorial governments are clearly making efforts to meet or exceed the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Quality, emerging issues such as Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are nowhere to be found. Likewise, threats emanating from increasing global terrorism and climate change are mentioned but not addressed, nor is there a national strategy to address emergency water contamination.
As odd as it may seem, while the information is gathered, processed and available, there is still a definite resistance to publicizing boil water advisories as they happen. It is also odd that most if not all water advisory governement reporting comes to a complete standstill on weekends and holidays as if contamination happens only according to human schedules. On the whole, there seems to be a generalized belief that things are under control and that few boil water advisories ever occur in major centers...with crumbling infrastructure and extreme weather clearly a reality, this could very well prove to be a tragic false perception.
NOTE: Each of the provincial or territorial section of this report features highlights of online information as well as links to source information.
The The Report of the Expert Panel on Safe Drinking Water for First Nations contains a section that summarizes the gaps in water standards from province to province.
Gaps in Water Standards Province to Province
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Water treatment regulations only apply to systems of a certain minimum threshold size, which generally varies from two to fifteen connections. The applicable water quality parameters and standards are usually set out in regulation. Some provinces adopt as standards some or all of the federal Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (which are formulated by a federal-provincial-territorial committee). Others provide only minimal microbiological or disinfection standards but set forth more specific treatment standards in individual system approvals/licences. Ontario and Québec have comprehensive treatment standards that go above and beyond the Guidelines.
- All provinces retain inspection powers over water treatment facilities, and nearly all provide the director and/or provincial officers with enforcement powers, such as powers to issue orders.
- Legislation in only some provinces requires that facilities prepare emergency plans, although this may be required by a system approval/licence. Similarly, there is variation as to what, if any, information must be regularly reported by facilities to the regulator (typically data logs). However, all provinces require reporting of adverse test results, which usually triggers further reporting requirements, and some also require that the laboratories conducting the test analysis to report adverse test results.
- All provinces and territories require governmental approval for the design, construction and operation of water treatment facilities (although this is not a legislative requirement in Yukon).
- Source protection is specifically addressed only in British Columbia, some Maritime Provinces and Québec, although Ontario and Manitoba will soon be promulgating comprehensive source protection legislation. Most other provinces protect source water through environmental laws of general application. Provincial legislation does not provide for protecting water sources that cross provincial boundaries.
- Wastewater treatment is generally addressed by legislation analogous to water treatment legislation.
Go to Full Report
See also
“EMERGING ISSUES IN WATER GOVERNANCE AND
LEGISLATION IN THE CANADIAN PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES” a study done for the Canadian Water Resources Association.
First Nations
It is well known that drinking water in First nations communities in Canada is our national shame. Drinking Water for First Nations comes under the responsibility of Health Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs.The federal deparments recently announced a $330 million two-year investment in a First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan.
Health Canada, in collaboration with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and First Nations stakeholders, has also developed the Procedure for Addressing Drinking Water Advisories in First Nations Communities South of 60°. The Procedure promotes a team approach to efficiently address a drinking water advisory where it has been issued in order to lift it in a timely manner. Implementation of the Procedure is underway.
More info
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