Source to Tap: Protecting Canada's Water

Water is the foundation of life. It is also something many Canadians have taken for granted in the past. Canada contains seven per cent of the world's total supply of renewable freshwater, and relies on the abundance of this natural resource for drinking, as well as for agriculture, industry, recreation and maintaining the health of our ecosystems.

As the population increases, so too do the pressures on the water supply. Water systems are exposed to a growing variety and level of chemical and bacteriological pollutants. In recent years, outbreaks of waterborne disease in Walkerton, Ontario, and North Battleford, Saskatchewan, have heightened awareness of the profound impact that threats to water quality can have on public health, the environment, and the economy.

In order to reduce these threats, Canada is taking a "multi-barrier approach" to managing its water-supply system. This approach identifies the tools needed to reduce public health risks at every stage of the system—from source to tap. It is made up of three components: source water protection, drinking water treatment, and drinking water distribution systems.

Protecting source water—such as lakes, rivers and aquifers—is a critical first step toward avoiding contamination. It involves activities to identify and control potential sources of pollution within the watershed, and enhance water quality where necessary. Source water protection is particularly important for small, rural and northern communities which may be unable to provide full treatment of drinking water.

Water treatment —such as filtration to remove solids and disinfection to kill bacteria and parasites—is key to ensuring safe drinking water. While treatment can vary according to the quality of the source water and the size of community served, it is important that there are safeguards and redundancies built into the system, that the water is tested regularly, and the operation is managed to meet a high level of performance standards.

Once drinking water leaves the treatment plant, its quality must be maintained throughout the distribution system—the network of pipes and storage tanks that carry the water to homes, businesses and public buildings. Diligence is required to ensure that sufficient disinfectant is present at all points in the system to protect public health.

The Multi-Barrier Approach

The multi-barrier approach identifies safeguards to protect water at the source, treatment and distribution stages. Each involves stakeholders in a variety of fields, including health, environment, agriculture, industry and waste management.

Politicians, government employees, the water industry and the public all play roles in the management of Canada's drinking-water supply—from operating treatment and distribution systems to managing potential sources of contamination within watersheds.

Scientists test water samples collected at the source, in treatment plants, in the distribution system, and at taps for various physical, chemical and biological characteristics. This information is used to determine if substances in the water are at safe levels compared to water-quality guidelines. Most water-quality monitoring in Canada is carried out by the provinces and territories. The federal government, municipalities, universities, water associations, environmental groups and volunteers also play a part. Scientists also carry out research to find out more about the type and sources of harmful substances found in water, and how they affect the health of people and other living organisms, such as fish.

The Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality apply to water destined for human consumption and define more than 85 different physical, chemical, microbiological, and radiological parameters, such as bacteria, odour, arsenic and radon. Because raw water may support a variety of beneficial uses, such as recreation, aquatic life (marine and freshwater), irrigation and livestock watering, guidelines have also been developed to protect these uses. These are referred to as the Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines and define more than 250 parameters. The Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality and the Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines are developed jointly by the federal, provincial and territorial governments.

Provinces, territories and municipalities have legislation and policies to protect their source waters and to establish requirements to provide clean, safe and reliable drinking water to citizens. The federal government is responsible for drinking water under federal jurisdiction, such as in First Nations communities, military and other federal facilities, and national parks. It also plays a significant role in protecting source water quality by regulating toxic substances, conducting water quality research, and promoting pollution prevention.

The multi-barrier approach to the protection, production and distribution of drinking water takes local conditions and challenges into account while offering an integrated system to reduce the risk of and prevent future contamination.

Efforts to increase public involvement and awareness by releasing monitoring results, explaining the health risks involved and providing information on how people's actions can affect water quality, will show individuals how they can play an important role in protecting water quality.

For more information on the multi-barrier approach, what governments are doing across the country, information sheets on water contaminants, and water-related links, visit the new Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Source-to-Tap Web site.