Safe Water

The goal of the Safe Water Program is to reduce the incidence of water-borne illness in the population. This is achieved by ensuring access to water that is safe to drink, and public pools and public beach waters are safe for recreational use. The scope of the Safe Water Program increased significantly in the aftermath of the Walkerton tragedy.

In conjunction with the Ministry of the Environment, Public Health Inspectors work diligently to ensure potable water for recipients of large and small water works.

If you have a concern about safe water in your community, contact a Public Health Inspector at your local office of the Northwestern Health Unit.

Drinking Water

Responsibilities of the Northwestern Health Unit:

  • Collects water samples from municipal, non-municipal and small drinking water systems for testing.
  • Interprets test results (water analysis reports)
  • Monitors the quality of municipal water supplies to confirm current standards are met.
  • Provides information on water treatment and alternative water treatment methods.
  • Investigates drinking water-related complaints and outbreaks of water-borne illness.
  • Provides information to the public.

What is a Boil Water Advisory?

A Boil Water Advisory is a notice to owners of water distribution systems - and to the people who receive water from a system - that the water is unfit for human consumption and must be boiled for at least one minute prior to drinking. A Boil Water Advisory is issued when:

  • adverse test results show evidence of pathogens or contaminants in the water, or
  • there is evidence that the water is untreated or has been inadequately treated.

A Boil Water Advisory may involve faxes, written communiques, an extensive public media campaign, personal phone calls and possibly door-to-door visits - whatever is needed to inform the public about unsafe water and protect them from water-borne illness until a water problem is resolved.

Recreational Water

Responsibilities of the Northwestern Health Unit:

  • Inspects public facilities such as bathing beaches, swimming pools, water slides, spas and whirlpools.
  • Collects water samples from bathing beaches for testing.
  • Provides educational programs and materials about water quality safety to the public.

When are public beaches posted?

Public beaches are sampled on a weekly basis from June 1st to August 31st. The Northwestern Health Unit is mandated to warn the public about swimming at a public beach when there is a risk to human health (such as hgh levels of E.coli) verified through testing or a risk assessment conducted by a Public Health Inspector. When a beach has been posted, re-sampling will occur even more frequently. The beach will remain posted until the water quality has recovered.

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