Canada's Cooperative Approach to Drinking Water Regulation

Abstract

Canada's abundant surface water, so prominent on maps of the country, is not always located where people need it most. One in three Canadians depends on groundwater. Drinking water quality is regulated separately by each of the provinces and territories, but there are common elements in the various policies. In general, Canadians select the highest‐quality supply and protect it or remove the potential sources of contamination. Problems a utility may have meeting the water quality guidelines established by the province are addressed with a cooperative abatement strategy. In this article the authors review regulatory policies, water sources, contamination problems, and treatment strategies for each of Canada's provinces and territories.

Modeling the susceptibility of drinking water utilities to form high concentrations of trihalomethanes

“…High organic mater in surface water causes concern about chlorine by-products for managers of drinking water municipality systems in Quebec (Decker and Long, 1992). Furthermore, many small utilities chlorinate raw water without a previous physicochemical treatment (Riopel, 1992).…”

Development of chlorine dioxide-related by-product models for drinking water treatment

“…In addition, eventhough one out of three Canadians depends on groundwater supplies, especially in the eastem provinces (Carter Decker and Long, 1992), there is no Canadian equivalent to the GWDR.…”

“…In 1986, a Federal-Provincial Subcommittee on Drinking Water was initiated with the purpose of reviewing and revising the guidelines on a continuous bais (Carter Decker and Long, 1992). The guidelines and recommendations which are proposed are applicable to al1 publicly and pnvately operated drinking water supplies.…”

“…However, they c m o t be viewed as legally-enforceable regulations unless promulgated by the appropriate provincial, territorial or federal agency (Health Canada, 1996). While drinking water is regulated by each individual province and territory, the separate provinces have taken on these guidelines as a base for their own regulations (Carter and Decker and Long, 1992). The authors report that only Alberta and Québec have promulgated legally-enforceable standards.…”

“…Carter Decker and Long (1992) have reported that, in the future, the MAC for TTHMs may possibly be fùrther lowered to 50 pglL. Chlorine dioxide and other DBPs including chlorite, chlorate, HAAs and bromate are under (or scheduled for) review for possible h i m e regulations (Heaith Canada, 1996).…”