Submitted by Henry Garcia, CPHI(C), DPHA, BASc (Env.H),Director of
Health Protection
Over the past two years the Government of Ontario has introduced new
legislation as a means of ensuring safe drinking water for public
consumption.
The new Safe Drinking Water Act and a number of regulations require all
water systems in Ontario that provide water for drinking to the public to
meet certain testing and treatment criteria. At this time, all municipal
systems, health care institutional systems, schools and nursery schools
must be in full compliance with the legislated requirements.
Other smaller systems such as trailer parks, restaurants and community
centers must be in full compliance no later than December 2005. The Health
Unit provides the public with water testing kits for bacteria analysis to
be used by private homeowners. We also respond to all adverse drinking
water results from regulated systems and provide free advice to homeowners
on various water safety issues in regards to private domestic water
supplies.