Guidance For Providing Safe Drinking Water in Areas of Federal
Jurisdiction - Version 1
Part 2 - Application of The Federal Framework
8.0 Information and Resources
A number of federal programs and documents exist to support departments
in carrying out their duties related to drinking water issues.
8.1 Health Canada's Water
Quality and Health Bureau
Health Canada's Water Quality and Health Bureau plays a key role
in the safety of drinking water by publishing the Guidelines for
Canadian Drinking Water Quality (Guidelines) and leading their
development. The Bureau develops the health risk assessments for
microbiological and chemical contaminants of drinking water. The
Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water (Committee)
then uses these assessments to establish the Guidelines. The Bureau
coordinates the activities of this committee, and is the federal
voting member.
The Bureau also plays a coordinating role at the federal level,
to help ensure a consistent federal approach to drinking water
quality.
8.2 Health Canada's Workplace
Health and Public Safety Programme
Two Bureaus within WHPSP provide assistance to federal departments
to provide safe drinking water for federal employees.
8.2.1 Public Health
- The Public Health Bureau's Federal Drinking Water Compliance
Program assists federal departments to demonstrate due diligence
in protecting human health from risks related to drinking water.
The program is responsible for:
- Disseminating information to assist departments to remain
current with best practices, new technical developments,
research, training, etc. for drinking water management systems
- Developing partnerships and alliances with and among federal
departments, agencies and non government organizations to
foster sharing of best practices in the management of drinking
water systems.
- Developing tools for federal departments to facilitate
the implementation of appropriate drinking water management
practices.
- The Public Health Bureau, through its Environmental Health
Officers located in the regions, provides routine services including
advice, consultation and inspection services to federal departments
on the day-to-day management of their drinking water systems.
Services include water sampling, interpretation of sampling results,
and recommendations on preventive measures related to drinking
water systems. Services are provided on a cost recovery basis.
8.2.2 Operations Bureau
Regional staff provide emergency services related to drinking
water systems to departments upon request. They provide advice,
consultation and worksite investigations for physical, chemical
and biological hazards associated with drinking water systems.
Services may include water sampling, analysis and interpretation
of sample results, investigations of drinking water related incidents
and recommendations on corrective actions.
8.3 Infraguide
A series of how-to manuals is being developed by the National
Research Council, in collaboration with the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities, called InfraGuide. These manuals address innovations
and best practices related to drinking water quality, including
treatment and distribution systems. Further information can be
found at  http://www.infraguide.ca
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