Update on drinking water systems regulation
June 29, 2004
The OMA, as member of the Tourism Federation of Ontario, participated in discussions regarding the legislation for small waterworks, created in light of the Walkerton water issue. The OMA is concerned about the difficulties the new legislation would cause small museums and tourism operators. Some progress has been made and we would like to share a letter sent to the Tourism Federation of Ontario by the Ministry of the Environment about the regulation.
OMA Vice-President, Ed Driedger, is meeting with a representative from the Ministry of the Environment on this issue. He can be contacted at 705-476-2323 or nbamchin@vianet.on.ca.
June 22, 2004
MEMORANDUM
TO: Tourism Federation of Ontario and Member Associations
FROM: Catherine Brown, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister,
Integrated Environmental Planning Division
RE: Changes to Drinking Water Systems Regulation
(O. Reg. 170/03) as Amended by O. Reg. xxx/04
On May 12, 2004, we advised you that amendments were being proposed to the Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O. Reg. 170/03) that would affect some non-municipal drinking water systems serving tourist facilities. Those amendments have now been passed into law, along with two additional changes.
Proposed amendments that have now become law:
The treatment deadline is extended from July 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004 for surface water systems in the following categories, as long as the system does not serve a designated facility:
- non-municipal year-round residential systems (mobile home parks, subdivisions, condos/apartments)
- large non-municipal non-residential systems (i.e, large resorts, hotels and campgrounds).
- The treatment deadline for these same systems on groundwater supplies remains the same (December 31, 2005).
The deadline for systems to notify the ministry of their intention to comply, apply for relief from treatment or post warning notices is extended to June 1, 2005.
Changes have been made to the sequence of corrective actions for some adverse test results to better provide for the immediate correction of the problem.
The definition of ‘food premises’ has been changed to make it clear that systems that do not serve public facilities, such as food manufacturers, are not included in the regulation.
New amendments:
One new amendment affects your members that must begin posting signs as outlined in Section 8 of O. Reg. 170/03 (or comply with the testing requirements of the regulation) by June 1, 2005. These signs only need to be posted at every tap that provides water from the drinking water system to protect users of the system, and not at building entrances.
Another new amendment relates to the recent proclamation of the Certification of Drinking Water Systems Operators and Water Quality Analysts Regulation (O. Reg. 128/04). A clause was needed in the drinking water regulation to retain the transitional provisions for certified operators. (See Section 3 of the amending regulation.)
These changes have been enacted primarily in response to concerns raised by small privately-run drinking water systems and municipalities. As promised, the ministry is prepared to look at some options for making the regulation more workable for small communities and rural water systems in the context of the government’s commitment to the O’Connor recommendations. We intend to consult with stakeholders over the summer months. To that end, ministry staff will be meeting with the Tourism Federation in early July to start the consultation process.
Regulation 170/03 and other drinking water information is available at www.ene.gov.on.ca
Catherine Brown
Acting Deputy Minister,
Integrated Environmental Planning Division
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