Government of Saskatchewan Annual Report 2002-03 State of Drinking Water Quality in Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Environment Table of Contents Page # Letters of Transmittal ...................................................................................................................... Iv Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ v 1. Introduction .........................................................................................................................1 1.1 Drinking Water Management In Saskatchewan – Rationale and Strategies .....................1 1.1.1 Walkerton.......................................................................................................1 1.1.2 North Battleford ..............................................................................................2 1.1.3 Water Management Framework .......................................................................2 1.1.4 Long Term Safe Drinking Water Strategy .........................................................2 1.2 Agency Roles, Responsibilities, Staff, Resources and Legislation ..................................3 1.2.1 Saskatchewan Environment ............................................................................3 1.2.2 Saskatchewan Health and Health Regions .......................................................5 1.2.3 Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.................................................................7 1.2.4 Saskatchewan Water Corporation ....................................................................7 1.2.5 Saskatchewan Government Relations and Aboriginal Affairs .............................8 1.2.6 Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization .................................8 1.3 Other Organizations ....................................................................................................9 1.3.1 National Organizations ....................................................................................9 1.3.2 Other Organizations ........................................................................................9 2. An Overview of Saskatchewan’s Drinking Water Supplies...................................................9 2.1 Saskatchewan Environment Regulated Waterworks......................................................9 2.2 Saskatchewan Health / Health Region Regulated Waterworks..................................... 10 2.3 Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Regulated Water Sources .................................... 10 3. Licensed Works – Compliance: 2002-2003......................................................................... 11 3.1 Water Quality and Sample Submission Compliance – Saskatchewan Environment Licensed Works .................................................................................... 11 3.1.1 Microbiological.............................................................................................. 11 3.1.1.1 General Introduction ................................................................... 11 3.1.1.2 Microbiological Sample Submission Performance ........................ 11 3.1.1.3 Excursions ................................................................................ 12 3.1.1.4 Long Term Drinking Water Strategy Performance Measures .......... 13 3.1.2 Turbidity....................................................................................................... 14 3.1.3 Chlorine Residuals........................................................................................ 16 3.1.3.1 Free Chlorine Compliance........................................................... 17 3.1.3.2 Total Chlorine Compliance .......................................................... 18 3.1.3.3 Long Term Safe Drinking Water Strategy Performance Measures .. 19 3.1.4 Trihalomethanes (THMs)............................................................................... 19 3.1.4.1 General Introduction ................................................................... 19 3.1.4.2 Sample Submission Performance ................................................ 20 3.1.4.3 Excursions ................................................................................. 20 3.1.5 Health and Toxicity Related Chemicals .......................................................... 21 3.1.5.1 General Introduction ................................................................... 21 3.1.5.2 Sample Submission Performance ................................................ 22 3.1.5.3 Excursions ................................................................................. 22 i Page # 3.1.6 Fluoride........................................................................................................ 22 3.1.6.1 General Introduction ................................................................... 22 3.1.6.2 Fluoride Excursions .................................................................... 23 3.1.7 Water Quality Exceedences Summary ........................................................... 24 3.2 Inspection and Regulatory Compliance – Saskatchewan Environment Licensed Waterworks .............................................................................................................. 25 3.2.1 Inspection Elements, Frequency and Findings ................................................ 25 3.2.2 Waterworks Not Meeting Minimum Treatment Requirements........................... 28 3.2.2.1 Long Term Safe Drinking Water Strategy Performance Measures – Minimum Treatment .................................................................... 29 3.2.3 Waterworks Related Infractions ..................................................................... 29 3.2.4 Enforcement Actions ..................................................................................... 30 3.3 Precautionary Drinking Water Advisories and Emergency Boil Water Orders ................ 30 3.4 Saskatchewan Health and Health Regions Inspection of Public Water Supplies ............ 31 4. Operator Certification Program........................................................................................... 31 4.1 Background, Legislation and Mandate........................................................................ 31 4.2 Compliance with Mandatory Operator Certification Program ........................................ 32 4.2.1 Certification for Operators of First Nation Facilities .......................................... 34 4.3 Operator Certification Board ...................................................................................... 34 4.4 Education and Training ............................................................................................. 35 4.5 Certification Examinations ......................................................................................... 35 4.6 Communities with Certified Operators in Place ........................................................... 36 5. Infrastructure – Status and Support ................................................................................... 36 5.1 Waterworks Safety Assessment Protocol ................................................................... 36 5.2 CSIP Projects and Funding ....................................................................................... 37 5.2.1 The Canada-Saskatchewan Infrastructure Program ........................................ 37 5.2.2 The Northern Water and Sewer Program and the Emergency Repair Program . 37 5.3 Municipal Financing Corporation ................................................................................ 37 5.4 Saskatchewan Water Corporation .............................................................................. 38 5.5 Waterworks Construction Permitting Process and Status............................................. 38 6. Laboratory Services and Accreditation .............................................................................. 40 6.1 Laboratory Services .................................................................................................. 40 6.2 Laboratory Accreditation ........................................................................................... 40 6.3 Rural Water Quality Advisory Program ....................................................................... 41 7. Data Management – Environmental Management System .................................................. 41 7.1 Consultation and Business Needs Assessment Process.............................................. 42 7.2 Environmental Management System Implementation and Status ................................. 42 7.3 Public Web Enablement (SaskH2O.ca) and Status ...................................................... 42 7.4 Future Development of EMS to Protect Water Sources ............................................... 43 7.4.1 Effluent Module ............................................................................................ 43 7.4.2 Site Facility Management Program Module (SFMP Tanks) .............................. 43 7.5 Saskatchewan Health Water Databases ..................................................................... 43 8. Protection of Source Waters............................................................................................... 43 8.1 Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Source Water Protection Activities ....................... 43 8.2 Quality of Surface Waters – Saskatchewan Environment – Water Quality Index ............ 45 8.2.1 Saskatchewan Water