The responsibility for Small Drinking Water Systems (SDWS) has been transferred to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Locally, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit has been enforcing a new SDWS regulation under the Health Protection and Promotion Act since 2009.
Public Health Inspectors are required to inspect all non-residential, non-municipal public SDWS and decide how often the owners/operators will need to have the water tested and what they must do to keep the water safe.
To learn more, click on one of the links below:
Click here download the SDWS information brochure.
The following five categories of drinking water systems were transferred from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and local Health Units. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's Safe Water Program will now assess the following Small Drinking Water Systems:
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Large municipal non-residential systems, that serve such facilities as municipally-owned airports and industrial parks, and large sports and recreation facilities;
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Small municipal non-residential systems, that serve such facilities as small community centres, libraries, and sports and recreation facilities;
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Non-municipal seasonal residential systems, that serve such facilities as private cottages on communal drinking water systems;
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Large non-municipal non-residential systems, that serve such facilities as large motels and resorts; and
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Small non-municipal non-residential systems, that serves such facilities as motels, restaurants, gas stations, churches, and bed and breakfasts.
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- Does your business make drinking water available to the public?
- Does your business use a private well or surface water sources, like rivers and lakes?
- If you answered “yes” to either question, then it is your responsibility to take steps to make sure the water from your SDWS is safe to drink.
- Businesses with this responsibility could include, but are not limited to, restaurants, community centres, places of worship, recreational camps and seasonal trailer parks.
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- Within the next few years, each SDWS will be assessed for the risk of contamination. Each SDWS will be assigned specific monitoring procedures and treatment requirements. If an owner/operator can prove a history of safe water samples,treatment may not be required
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- A history of water sampling will be needed as part of the assessment. Although it is not currently required, it is recommended that SDWS owners/operators take monthly water samples for Total Coliforms and E. coli.
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- Make sure your wells are properly constructed and keep all potential sources of contamination away from the well.
- Test your water regularly by using a professional lab to make sure it is safe to drink. Look in the Yellow Pages™ under Labratories-Analytical & Testing.
- If samples indicate your water is not safe to drink, you may need a disinfection system. Talk to professional suppliers to
find and install the right type of treatment system.
- Check your entire water system from the source to the tap and properly maintain pipes, pumps, valves, storage tanks,
reservoirs, meters and fittings.
- Let the public know if you find any problems. Discuss the problem with your Public Health Inspector.
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- Click here to visit the Ontario Ministry of Health's website on SDWS
- Call a Public Health Inspector at 625-5930 or 1-888-294-6630, ext. 5930.
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