You're using an outdated browser. This website will not display correctly and some features will not work.
Learn more about the browsers we support for a faster and safer online experience.

O. Reg. 399/07: Drinking Water Systems

filed July 26, 2007 under Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 32

Skip to content

Français

ontario regulation 399/07

made under the

safe drinking water act, 2002

Made: July 25, 2007
Filed: July 26, 2007
Published on e-Laws: July 31, 2007
Printed in The Ontario Gazette: August 11, 2007

Amending O. Reg. 170/03

(Drinking-Water Systems)

1. The Table to section 4 of Ontario Regulation 170/03 is revoked and the following substituted:

TABLE
application of schedules

 

Item

Drinking-Water Systems

Applicable Schedules

 

 

Treatment

Operational Checks, Sampling and Testing

Adverse Test Results and Other Problems

Reports

Chemical Testing Parameters

1.

Large municipal residential systems

1, 4

6, 7, 10, 13, 15.1

16, 17

22

23, 24

2.

Small municipal residential systems

1, 3, 4

6, 7, 11, 13, 15.1

16, 18, 19

22

23, 24

3.

Large municipal non-residential systems

2, 3, 5

6, 8, 12, 15, 15.2

16, 18, 19

21

23, 24

4.

Small municipal non-residential systems

2, 3, 5

6, 9, 12, 15, 15.2

16, 18, 19

21

23, 24

5.

Non-municipal year-round residential systems

2, 3, 5

6, 8, 11, 13, 15.1

16, 18, 19

21

23, 24

6.

Non-municipal seasonal residential systems

2, 3, 5

6, 9, 12, 15, 15.2

16, 18, 19

21

23, 24

7.

Large non-municipal non-residential systems

2, 3, 5

6, 8, 12, 15, 15.2

16, 18, 19

21

23, 24

8.

Small non-municipal non-residential systems

2, 3, 5

6, 9, 12, 15, 15.2

16, 18, 19

21

23, 24

2. (1) Paragraph 4 of subsection 5 (1) of the Regulation is amended by striking out “13-3”.

(2) Paragraph 3 of subsection 5 (2) of the Regulation is amended by striking out “13-3”.

(3) Paragraph 3 of subsection 5 (3) of the Regulation is amended by striking out “15-3”.

(4) Clause 5 (4) (b) of the Regulation is amended by striking out “and” at the end of sub-subclause (i) (B), by adding “and” at the end of subclause (ii), and by adding the following subclause:

(iii) to comply, on behalf of the owner of the system that obtains the water and the operating authority for the system,

(A) with Schedule 15.1, in the case of a large municipal residential system, a small municipal residential system or a non-municipal year-round residential system, or

(B) with Schedule 15.2, in the case of a seasonal residential system.

3. Clause 6 (1) (c) of the Regulation is amended by striking out “and” at the end of sub-subclause (i) (B), by adding “and” at the end of subclause (ii), and by adding the following subclause:

(iii) to comply with Schedule 15.2 on behalf of the owner of the system that obtains the water and the operating authority for the system.

4. (1) Subparagraph 1 i of subsection 13 (2) of the Regulation is amended by striking out “section 13-3”.

(2) Paragraph 1 of subsection 13 (2) of the Regulation is amended by adding the following subparagraphs:

ii.1 Section 15.1-7 of Schedule 15.1.

ii.2 Section 15.2-2 of Schedule 15.2.

(3) Subparagraph 1 ii of subsection 13 (3) of the Regulation is amended by striking out “15-3”.

5. (1) Section 6-10 of Schedule 6 to the Regulation is amended by adding the following paragraphs:

3. If the sample is taken from a drinking-water system’s distribution system under section 15.1-4 or 15.1-5 of Schedule 15.1, the addresses of all premises served by the plumbing from which samples were taken on the same day in accordance with subsection 15.1-6 (3).

4. If the sample is taken under section 15.1-7 of Schedule 15.1 and tested for pH,

i. the date and time of the test,

ii. the name of the person who conducted it,  and

iii. the results of the test.

(2) Section 6-11 of Schedule 6 to the Regulation is amended by striking out “Schedules 7 to 15” wherever it appears and substituting in each case “Schedules 7 to 15.2”.

(3) Subsection 6-12 (1) of Schedule 6 to the Regulation is amended by striking out “Schedules 7 to 15” and substituting “Schedules 7 to 15.2”.

(4) Subsection 6-12 (2) of Schedule 6 to the Regulation is amended by striking out “Schedules 7 to 15” wherever it appears and substituting in each case “Schedules 7 to 15.2”.

6. (1) Section 13-3 of Schedule 13 to the Regulation is revoked.

(2) Subsection 13-5 (1) of Schedule 13 to the Regulation is amended by striking out “13-2, 13-3 or 13-4” and substituting “13-2 or 13-4”.

(3) Clause 13-5 (2) (a) of Schedule 13 to the Regulation is amended by striking out “13-2, 13-3 or 13-4” and substituting “13-2 or 13-4”.

(4) Clause 13-5 (2) (b) of Schedule 13 to the Regulation is amended by striking out “13-2, 13-3 or 13-4” and substituting “13-2 or 13-4”.

7. Section 15-3 of Schedule 15 to the Regulation is revoked.

8. The Regulation is amended by adding the following Schedules:

SCHEDULE 15.1
LEAD

Municipal: Large Residential
Small Residential

Non-Municipal: Year-Round Residential

Application

15.1-1. This Schedule applies to the following drinking-water systems:

1. Large municipal residential systems.

2. Small municipal residential systems.

3. Non-municipal year-round residential systems.

Limited meaning of “serve”

15.1-2. For the purposes of this Schedule,

(a) a drinking-water system serves a population if its distribution system is directly connected to the plumbing that serves the population;

(b) a drinking-water system serves a private residence or other building if its distribution system is directly connected to the plumbing that serves the private residence or other building.

Definitions

15.1-3. In this Schedule,

“lead plumbing” and “lead service pipes” mean plumbing and service pipes with a lead content greater than 8 per cent; (“installation de plomberie en plomb”, “conduites de branchement en plomb”)

“lead solder” means solder with a lead content greater than 0.2 per cent; (“soudures de plomb”)

“Schedule 2 standard” means a standard prescribed for any substance in Schedule 2 to the Ontario Drinking-Water Quality Standards; (“norme prescrite à l’annexe 2”)

“standard prescribed for lead” means the standard prescribed for lead in Schedule 2 to the Ontario Drinking-Water Quality Standards; (“norme prescrite à l’égard du plomb”)

Standard sampling

15.1-4. (1) The owner of a drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that, in accordance with sections 15.1-6 and 15.1-7, samples are taken during the periods described in subsection (2),

(a) in plumbing that serves private residences, from at least the number of points set out in Column 3 of the Table to this section opposite the population served by the drinking-water system;

(b) in plumbing that does not serve private residences, from at least the number of points set out in Column 4 of the Table to this section opposite the population served by the drinking-water system; and

(c) in the drinking-water system’s distribution system, from at least the number of points set out in Column 5 of the Table to this section opposite the population served by the drinking-water system.

(2) The samples required by subsection (1) must be taken during each of the following periods:

1. The period from December 15, 2007 to April 15, 2008 and the corresponding period in every subsequent 12-month period.

2. The period from June 15, 2008 to October 15, 2008 and the corresponding period in every subsequent 12-month period.

TABLE
standard sampling — number of sampling locations

 

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Column 5

Item

Population Served by Drinking-Water System

Number of Sampling Points in Plumbing that Serves Private Residences

Number of Sampling Points in Plumbing that Does Not Serve Private Residences

Number of Sampling Points in Distribution System

1.

1- 99

5

1

1

2.

100 - 499

10

1

2

3.

500 - 3,299

20

2

4

4.

3,300 - 9,999

40

4

8

5.

10,000 - 49,999

60

6

12

6.

50,000 - 99,999

80

8

16

7.

100,000 or more

100

10

20

Reduced sampling

15.1-5. (1) Section 15.1-4 ceases to apply to a drinking-water system, and this section applies instead, if,

(a) in the case of a system that serves a population of less than 50,000,

(i) in each of two consecutive periods described in subsection 15.1-4 (2),

(A) not more than 10 per cent of all the samples taken from plumbing under section 15.1-4 and tested for lead exceeded half the standard prescribed for lead, according to the results of the tests conducted under section 15.1-7, and

(B) no sample taken from plumbing under section 15.1-4 and tested for lead exceeded the standard prescribed for lead, according to the results of the tests conducted under section 15.1-7, or

(ii) in each of four consecutive periods described in subsection 15.1-4 (2), not more than 10 per cent of all the samples taken from plumbing under section 15.1-4 and tested for lead exceeded the standard prescribed for lead, according to the results of the tests conducted under section 15.1-7;

(b) in the case of a system that serves a population of 50,000 or more, in each of four consecutive periods described in subsection 15.1-4 (2), not more than 10 per cent of all the samples taken from plumbing under section 15.1-4 and tested for lead exceeded the standard prescribed for lead, according to the results of the tests conducted under section 15.1-7.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), if two samples that are taken on the same day from a point in plumbing are tested for lead under section 15.1-7, the sample with the lower concentration of lead shall not be considered.

(3) If a drinking-water system serves a population of less than 50,000 and, under subsection (1), section 15.1-4 does not apply to the system, the owner of the drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that, in accordance with sections 15.1-6 and 15.1-7, samples are taken during the periods described in subsection (5) in every third 12-month period after samples were last taken under section 15.1-4 or this section,

(a) in plumbing that serves private residences, from at least the number of points set out in Column 3 of the Table to this section opposite the population served by the drinking-water system;

(b) in plumbing that does not serve private residences, from at least the number of points set out in Column 4 of the Table to this section opposite the population served by the drinking-water system; and

(c) in the drinking-water system’s distribution system, from at least the number of points set out in Column 5 of the Table to this section opposite the population served by the drinking-water system.

(4) If a drinking-water system serves a population of 50,000 or more and, under subsection (1), section 15.1-4 does not apply to the system, the owner of the drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that, in accordance with sections 15.1-6 and 15.1-7, samples are taken during the periods described in subsection (5), in every 12-month period after samples were last taken under section 15.1-4 or this section,

(a) in plumbing that serves private residences, from at least the number of points set out in Column 3 of the Table to this section opposite the population served by the drinking-water system;

(b) in plumbing that does not serve private residences, from at least the number of points set out in Column 4 of the Table to this section opposite the population served by the drinking-water system; and

(c) in the drinking-water system’s distribution system, from at least the number of points set out in Column 5 of the Table to this section opposite the population served by the drinking-water system.

(5) The samples required by subsections (3) and (4) must be taken during each of the following periods in the relevant 12-month period:

1. The period from December 15 to April 15.

2. The period from June 15 to October 15.

(6) This section ceases to apply to a drinking-water system, and section 15.1-4 applies again, if in any period described in subsection (5), more than 10 per cent of all the samples taken from plumbing under that subsection and tested for lead exceeded the standard prescribed for lead, according to the results of the tests conducted under section 15.1-7.

(7) For the purpose of subsection (6), if two samples that are taken on the same day from a point in plumbing are tested for lead under section 15.1-7, the sample with the lower concentration of lead shall not be considered.

TABLE
reduced sampling — number of sampling locations

 

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Column 5

Item

Population Served by Drinking-Water System

Number of Sampling Points in Plumbing that Serves Private Residences

Number of Sampling Points in Plumbing that Does Not Serve Private Residences

Number of Sampling Points in Distribution System

1.

1- 99

3

0

1

2.

100 - 499

5

1

1

3.

500 - 3,299

10

1

2

4.

3,300 - 9,999

20

2

3

5.

10,000 - 49,999

30

3

4

6.

50,000 - 99,999

40

4

8

7.

100,000 or more

50

5

10

Selection of sampling points

15.1-6. (1) The owner of a drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that a sample taken from plumbing under section 15.1-4 or 15.1-5 is taken only with the consent of the occupant of the premises served by the plumbing.

(2) In selecting points in plumbing from which samples are to be taken under section 15.1-4 or 15.1-5, the owner of the drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that the samples comply with the following rules:

1. Subject to paragraph 2, samples must be taken from,

i. plumbing that is connected or is suspected of being connected to lead service pipes, or

ii. lead plumbing or plumbing that is suspected of being lead plumbing.

2. To the extent that it is not reasonably possible to take samples from plumbing described in paragraph 1, samples may be taken from,

i. plumbing that is connected or is suspected of being connected to service pipes that are not lead service pipes but have lead solder, or

ii. plumbing that is not lead plumbing but has or is suspected of having lead solder.

3. Samples must not be taken from more than one point in the same building.

4. Subject to paragraphs 1 to 3, samples must be taken from plumbing that serves different kinds of premises, including,

i. single-family homes and multi-unit residential buildings, in the case of samples taken under clause 15.1-4 (1) (a) or 15.1-5 (3) (a) or (4) (a), and

ii. commercial properties, industrial properties, designated facilities and public facilities, in the case of samples taken under clause 15.1-4 (1) (b) or 15.1-5 (3) (b) or (4) (b).

5. Subject to paragraphs 1 to 3, samples must be taken from different geographical areas that are served by the drinking-water system.

(3) The owner of a drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that each sample taken from the system’s distribution system under section 15.1-4 or 15.1-5 is taken,

(a) on the same day that samples are taken from points in plumbing under that section; and

(b) from a point in the distribution system that is as close as reasonably possible to the points in plumbing from which samples are taken.

Sampling protocol and testing

15.1-7. (1) The owner of a drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that samples taken from a point in plumbing under section 15.1-4 or 15.1-5 are taken in accordance with the following rules:

1. Two one-litre samples and the sample described in paragraph 12 must be taken.

2. All three samples must be taken from the same tap.

3. If the tap from which samples are to be taken has an aerator, the aerator must not be removed while the samples are being taken.

4. The samples must be taken from,

i. a kitchen tap, if the sample is being taken from plumbing that serves premises that have a kitchen tap, or

ii. the tap that is most commonly used to provide water for human consumption, in any other case.

5. If a filter or other water-treating device is installed on or near the tap specified in paragraph 4, the filter or other device must be bypassed without being removed, if it is reasonably possible to do so, while the samples are being taken.

6. If a filter or other water-treating device is installed on or near the tap specified in paragraph 4 and it is not reasonably possible to bypass the filter or other device without removing it, the samples must be taken from another tap that is commonly used to provide water for human consumption.

7. If a filter or other water-treating device is installed on or near every tap that provides water for human consumption and, in every case, it is not reasonably possible to bypass the filter or other device without removing it, the samples must be taken from the tap specified in paragraph 4, but the filter or other device must be removed before the step described in paragraph 8 is taken.

8. Before the first sample is taken in accordance with paragraph 9, the tap must be turned on for at least five minutes and then turned off for the period described in subparagraph 9 i.

9. The first sample to be taken must be taken in accordance with the following rules:

i. The sample must be taken immediately after a period of not less than 30 minutes but not more than 35 minutes during which the plumbing is not used and must include the first water that comes out when the tap is turned on to take the sample.

ii. The sample must be taken with water flowing at a rate that approximates normal use, without permitting water to splash out of the container in which the sample is being collected.

10. The second sample to be taken must be taken immediately after the first sample, without turning off the tap or altering the flow rate of the tap.

11. Unless the laboratory directions referred to in section 6-8 of Schedule 6 provide otherwise, two or more containers may be used to take the first sample and to take the second sample, but in that case the time taken to switch from one container to the next must be kept to a minimum.

12. The third sample to be taken must be taken immediately after the second sample, without turning off the tap or altering the flow rate of the tap.

(2) The owner of a drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that samples taken from a point in the system’s distribution system under section 15.1-4 or 15.1-5 are taken in accordance with the following rules:

1. Before the samples are taken, the point in the distribution system must be flushed until the quality of the water at the point is representative of the quality of the water in that part of the distribution system.

2. Three samples must be taken.

(3) The owner of the drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that,

(a) the samples taken under paragraphs 9 and 10 of subsection (1) and the first sample taken under subsection (2) are tested for lead;

(b) the second sample taken under subsection (2) is tested for total alkalinity; and

(c) the sample taken under paragraph 12 of subsection (1) and the third sample taken under subsection (2) are each tested for pH,

(i) immediately after the sample is taken, and

(ii) using a pH meter that measures pH to at least two significant digits.

(4) The owner of the drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that samples are taken and pH tests are conducted under this section only by,

(a) a certified operator;

(b) a water quality analyst;

(c) a medical officer of health or public health inspector within the meaning of the Health Protection and Promotion Act;

(d) a trained person; or

(e) a person who,

(i) has been trained by a certified operator to take samples and conduct pH tests in accordance with this section,

(ii) works under the supervision of a certified operator, and

(iii) advises a certified operator of all pH test results within a reasonable period of time.

Drinking water tests

15.1-8. Every test of a sample taken from plumbing under section 15.1-4 or 15.1-5 is prescribed as a drinking-water test for the purpose of the definition of “drinking-water test” in section 2 of the Act.

Reporting requirements for samples taken from plumbing

15.1-9. (1) If the operating authority for a drinking-water system or the owner of a drinking-water system receives a report of a test result for a test conducted on a sample taken from plumbing under section 15.1-4 or 15.1-5, the operating authority or owner shall, within seven days after receiving the report, give the following to the occupant of the premises served by the tap from which the sample was taken:

1. A copy of the report.

2. A statement of whether the report indicates a result that exceeds any Schedule 2 standard.

3. If the report indicates a result described in paragraph 2, any advice given by the medical officer of health to the operating authority or owner with respect to any steps that the occupant should take.

4. The telephone number of a person who is available to answer questions about the report.

(2) If a laboratory conducts a test of a sample taken from plumbing under section 15.1-4 or 15.1-5 and a result of the test exceeds any Schedule 2 standard, the laboratory shall, within 24 hours after the result is obtained, give a written report to,

(a) the operating authority for the drinking-water system, if an operating authority is responsible for the system;

(b) the owner of the drinking-water system, if no operating authority is responsible for the system;

(c) the medical officer of health; and

(d) the Ministry’s Spills Action Centre.

(3) The report required by subsection (2) shall specify,

(a) the result that requires the report; and

(b) the particular Schedule 2 standard that the result exceeds.

(4) If a laboratory reports a test result to the operating authority for a drinking-water system under subsection (2), the operating authority shall, within 24 hours after receiving the report, give a copy of the report to the owner of the system.

(5) If a laboratory reports a test result to the operating authority for a drinking-water system or the owner of a drinking-water system under subsection (2), the operating authority or owner shall, within 24 hours after receiving the report, give a copy of the report to the medical officer of health.

(6) If a copy of a report is given to the operator of a designated facility under subsection (1), the operator shall provide a copy of the report to the interested authority for the facility, as soon as reasonably possible and preferably within 24 hours after the operator receives the copy.

(7) A written document that is given under subsection (2), (4), (5) or (6) may be delivered personally or sent by fax or by electronic mail.

(8) Despite subsection (7), the Ministry’s Spills Action Centre may require that a report that is given to the Centre under subsection (2) be given in an electronic format specified by the Director.

(9) Section 18 of the Act and Schedule 16 to this Regulation do not apply to a test of a sample taken from plumbing under section 15.1-4 or 15.1-5.

Corrective action for adverse results

15.1-10. If a report is made under subsection 15.1-9 (2), the owner of the drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall take such steps as are directed by the medical officer of health, including, if directed by the medical officer of health, providing information to occupants of the premises served by the plumbing from which the sample was taken that is in addition to the information provided under paragraph 3 of subsection 15.1-9 (1).

Corrosion control

15.1-11. (1) This section applies to a large municipal residential system if,

(a) in two of the three most recent periods described in section 15.1-4 or 15.1-5, more than 10 per cent of all the samples taken from plumbing under that section and tested for lead exceed the standard prescribed for lead, according to the results of the tests conducted under section 15.1-7; and

(b) in each of the two periods mentioned in clause (a), the number of samples that exceed the standard prescribed for lead is at least two.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), if two samples that are taken on the same day from a point in plumbing are tested for lead under section 15.1-7, the sample with the lower concentration of lead shall not be considered.

(3) Within one year after the last day of the period mentioned in subsection (1) during which the test results are such as to cause this section to apply, the owner of the system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that a plan that complies with subsection (5) is prepared and submitted to a Director appointed by the Minister under section 6 of the Act in respect of section 32 of the Act.

(4) The plan shall be prepared and submitted in a form and manner approved by the Director.

(5) The plan shall,

(a) analyze the potential for lead leaching into water as a result of corrosion that occurs in the system’s distribution system or in plumbing that is connected to the system’s distribution system;

(b) list and analyze possible measures to reduce the potential for lead leaching;

(c) identify the preferred measure or measures;

(d) set out an implementation schedule; and

(e) include a program for monitoring the effectiveness of the preferred measure or measures.

(6) If subsection (3) applies to a drinking-water system that obtains treated water from another drinking-water system,

(a) subsection (3) also applies to the owner of the other system and to the operating authority for the other system;

(b) the plan mentioned in subsection (3) shall be a joint plan; and

(c) the owner and operating authority mentioned in clause (a) shall, jointly with the owner of the system that obtains the treated water and the operating authority for that system, ensure that the plan is prepared and submitted.

(7) If the drinking-water system referred in clause (6) (a) itself obtains treated water from another system, subsection (6) also applies to that other system.

(8) If the plan mentioned in subsection (3) requires the owner or the operating authority to do anything in connection with implementing measures under the plan or monitoring their effectiveness, the owner shall, at the same time as the plan is submitted to the Director, apply to the Director to amend the system’s approval or municipal drinking-water licence to reflect the requirements of the plan.

SCHEDULE 15.2
lead

Municipal: Large Non-Residential
Small Non-Residential

Non-Municipal: Seasonal Residential
Large Non-Residential
Small Non-Residential

Application

15.2-1. This Schedule applies to the following drinking-water systems:

1. Large municipal non-residential systems.

2. Small municipal non-residential systems.

3. Non-municipal seasonal residential systems.

4. Large non-municipal non-residential systems.

5. Small non-municipal non-residential systems.

Distribution samples

15.2-2. (1) The owner of a drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that at least one distribution sample is taken every 12 months, from a point in the drinking-water system’s distribution system or in plumbing that is connected to the drinking-water system that is likely to have an elevated concentration of lead.

(2) The owner of the drinking-water system and the operating authority for the system shall ensure that each of the samples taken under subsection (1) is tested for lead.

Schools, private schools and day nurseries

15.2-3. This Schedule does not apply to a drinking-water system that serves only a school, private school or day nursery to which section 5 of Ontario Regulation 243/07 (School, Private Schools and Day Nurseries) made under the Act applies.

9. Subsection 16-2 (2) of Schedule 16 to the Regulation is revoked and the following substituted:

(2) Despite subsection (1), subsection 18 (1) of the Act does not apply to the following drinking-water tests:

1. A drinking-water test that is conducted to ensure compliance with corrective action required by paragraph 1 of section 17-4 of Schedule 17 or paragraph 1 of section 18-4 of Schedule 18.

2. A drinking-water test that is conducted on a sample that was taken from plumbing, if the test is conducted solely for the purpose of determining the quality of the water in the plumbing.

10. This Regulation comes into force on the day it is filed.

 

Français