In Ontario, small non-community drinking water systems are defined as systems that make drinking water available to the public and are not connected to a community drinking water system. This study, using qualitative research approach, examines the risk awareness and perceptions of small non-community drinking water system owners in providing safe drinking water to their clients and protecting their water source. Our study yields the need for developing a sustainable operation model for small non-community drinking water systems. The study results provide recommendations to the regulatory agency for effective and efficient administration of the program such as offering customized and affordable training opportunities and developing effective communication strategies for owners and operators.

Sekercioglu et al.: Relationship between operational characteristics of small non-community drinking water systems and adverse water quality incidents in Southern Ontario, Abstract. Ensuring that water sources are safe by protecting them from disease causing organisms is integral for the continued health of people as drinking contaminated water leads to waterborne diseases which can be life-threatening. The purpose of this study is to examine small non-community drinking water systems' (SDWSs) operational characteristics and their relationships with adverse water quality incidents (AWQIs) which is defined as presence of total coliforms and/or Escherichia coli. We explored the relationship between operational characteristics of SDWSs and the occurrence of adverse water quality outcomes using de-identified data provided by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, Ontario. We examined the associations between water system operational characteristics and the adverse water quality outcome using logistic regression models. The analyses results indicated that operator training was associated with a lower risk for AWQI. None of the other predictors were significantly associated with AWQI: treatment method, water source, operating period, or sampling frequency. Our research concluded that the presence of operator training, an upstream behavioural determinant, is related to the incidence of AWQIs in SDWSs in Ontario, Canada. The high percentage of SDWSs with no treatment and lack of interest in testing for chemicals are potential areas of concern for ensuring the provision of safe drinking water from these systems.

The provision of safe drinking water in Ontario’s small non-community drinking water systems (SDWSs) poses a challenge for many system owners. Our study aims at developing a sustainable operation model for SDWSs by recognizing the importance of source water protection. Although the current literature on Ontario’s SDWSs is limited, the review of the existing water management strategies in Canada and across the world provided fruitful results to create a unique model for Ontario’s SDWSs using the Multiple-Barrier Approach framework. Our sustainable operation model consists of five main components: 1. Commitment to providing safe drinking water; 2. Assessment of the system and source water; 3. System operation and operator training; 4. Management of incidents and emergencies; 5. Communication and raising awareness. Our model addresses the areas that need more attention for today, and in the future, such as protecting source water, financial stability enhanced communication and increased awareness. A sustainable operation model for SDSWs based on the Multiple-Barrier Approach framework addresses the shortcomings of the current water management framework for SDWSs and offers a viable strategy to establish a sustainable operation model with an integrated approach.