Relationship Between Operational Characteristics of Small Non-Community Drinking Water Systems and Adverse Water Quality Incidents in Southern Ontario, Canada

Abstract

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 Development of a Sustainable Operation Model for Small Non-Community Drinking Water Systems in Ontario, Canada

“…On the other hand, the recent analysis of SDWS data obtained from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health and interviews with SDWS owners in the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph region raised several critical issues in the current institutional arrangements that might put the provision of safe drinking water from SDWSs at risk, including lack of training opportunities for the owners and operators (Sekercioglu et al, 2018a;Sekercioglu et al, 2018b). The current policy and legal measures do not provide solutions to the drawbacks of the current SDWS program.…”