Guidance For Providing Safe Drinking Water in Areas of Federal
Jurisdiction - Version 1
Glossary
For the sake of clarity, key terms have been defined in the glossary
specifically for the purpose of this document, and may differ slightly
from standard dictionary definitions.
Aesthetic Objective (AO)
Aesthetic objectives address parameters which may affect consumer
acceptance of the water even though the substance in question is
found at concentrations below which health effects appear. These
parameters generally affect characteristics such as taste, odour
and colour.(15)
Aquifer
A geological formation of permeable rock, sand, or gravel that
conducts groundwater and yields significant quantities of water
to springs and wells.(21)
Baseline Chemical Analysis
Analysis of all Guidelines for Canadian Drinking
Water Quality for chemical parameters (including initial screening for radiological
parameters) with Maximum Acceptable Concentrations (MACs). As part
of this analysis, departments may choose to look at aesthetic parameters
and operational guidance values as well. (See also Sanitary
Survey,
Vulnerabilities Assessment, and Monitoring
Program).
Biofilm
A community of microorganisms attached to a solid surface, for
example the inside wall of a pipe, in an aquatic environment.
Boil Water Advisory
For the purpose of this document, the use of the term 'boil
water advisory' is taken to mean advice given to the public
by the responsible authority to boil their water, regardless of whether
this advice is precautionary or in response to an outbreak. (See
Appendix 7 for guidance regarding boil water advisories). Depending
on the jurisdiction, the use of this term may vary. As well, the
term 'boil water order' may be used in place of, or
in conjunction with "boil water advisory."
Cistern
A small, covered tank, usually placed underground, in which potable
water is stored for household purposes.(3)
Distribution system
A network of pipes leading from a well or treatment system to
consumers' plumbing systems.
Drinking Water
See "potable water."
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Drinking water system
All aspects from the point of collection of water to the consumer
(can include groundwater supplies, surface waters, storage reservoirs
and supply systems, intakes, treatment systems, service reservoirs,
distribution systems and plumbing).
For the purpose of this document, drinking water systems have
been broken down into the following categories:
- Large system: serves more than 5000 people
- Small system: serves between 500 and 5000 people
- Very small system: serves fewer than 500 people
Drinking water systems serving less than 50 people are also included in
the "very small system" category if they are owned or leased
by the federal government such as those serving:
- federal employees in federal facilities;
- federal employees (and their family / visitors) living in residences
provided by the federal government as a condition of employment;
- members of the Canadian Forces;
- inmates of federal correctional facilities; and,
- visitors to federal facilities.
Due diligence
Due diligence is the measure of prudence, activity or assiduity that is
properly to be expected from, and ordinarily exercised by, a reasonable
and prudent person under the particular circumstances. (53)
Employer
An employer is a person who employs one or more persons (and includes an
employers' organization and any person who acts on behalf of an employer).
In the context of the drinking water program, the term "employer" covers
each department and all levels of management.
Federal facility
Any federal infrastructure that provides access to a drinking water supply.
This includes, but is not limited to, federal buildings, and hand
pumps designed to provide drinking water, whether freestanding or not.
Federal Jurisdiction
A government's general power to exercise authority over all persons
and things within its territory (25).
For the purposes of this document, unless the context indicates otherwise, "federal
jurisdiction" refers
only to those elements of federal jurisdiction mentioned in the Preface.
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Good Manufacturing Practices
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) relate to quality assurance programs
that a manufacturer would establish to ensure that its products
are consistently produced to the safety and quality standards appropriate
to their intended use. They are conditions specific to the product being
manufactured. In the case of bottled water, the Canadian Food Inspection
System Implementation Group has developed a code of hygienic practice (Code
of Hygienic Practice for Commercial Prepackaged and Non-Prepackaged Water)
which provides guidance on what could be considered GMP for bottlers of
water. The document is available at:
http://www.cfis.agr.ca/english/regcode/bw/bwcode_e.shtml
Groundwater
The water found in underground aquifers which supplies wells and springs.(21)
For the purpose of this document, groundwater refers to groundwater sources
that are NOT under the direct influence of surface water.
Groundwater under the direct influence of surface water (GUDI)
Any water beneath the surface of the ground with (i) significant occurrence
of insects or other microorganisms, algae, organic debris, or large-diameter
pathogens such as Giardia lamblia or Cryptosporidium, or (ii) significant
and relatively rapid shifts in water characteristics such as turbidity,
temperature, conductivity, or pH which closely correlate to climatological
or surface water conditions.
Guideline
For the purpose of this document and unless specified otherwise, the term
guideline refers to the most recent version of the Guidelines
for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. These guidelines set out the basic parameters that
every water system should strive to achieve in order to provide the cleanest,
safest and most reliable drinking water possible. They are established by
the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water (see Section
2.1 of this document for more details).
Large drinking water system
See "drinking water system."
Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC)
Maximum acceptable concentrations are the health-based limits for drinking
water contaminants established in the Guidelines for
Canadian Drinking Water Quality. They are designed to protect human health, incorporating safety
factors and assuming exposure over a lifetime.
Monitoring program
A list of substances that should be routinely monitored. A sanitary survey,
in combination with a vulnerabilities assessment and baseline chemical analysis,
will provide the information required to develop an appropriate monitoring
program and treatment regime. (See also Sanitary
survey, Vulnerabilities
Assessment and Baseline chemical
analysis).
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Operator training classification
Definitions of Class I to IV and including certification for "very
small systems," based on the ABC certification structure and guidelines
(See Section 7.2).
Plumbing
A building's distributing pipes for bringing in the water supply
and removing liquid and waterborne wastes. It includes pipes, fixtures and
other apparatuses, soil, waste and vent pipes, along with connections within
and adjacent to the building.
Potable water
Water that is safe and satisfactory for drinking and food preparation (Synonym:
drinking water)
Quality management
The consistent and effective management and operation of all the components
of the drinking water system, from source to tap. In order to achieve quality
management, verification tools and procedures must be in place, such as
monitoring, record-keeping, and evaluation processes such as third-party
auditing. In this document, quality management focusses on intake to tap.
Reservoir
An impounded body of water or controlled lake in which water can be collected
and stored.(3)
Sanitary survey
An on-site review, from intake to tap, of a water utility's raw water quality,
facilities, equipment, operations, and maintenance records for the purpose
of evaluating the utility's ability to adequately treat source water in
order to produce and deliver safe drinking water. The sanitary survey will
vary depending upon the type and complexity of the system. A sanitary survey,
in combination with a vulnerabilities assessment and baseline chemical analysis,
will provide the information required to develop an appropriate monitoring
program and treatment regime. (See also Vulnerabilities
Assessment, Baseline
Chemical Analysis, and Monitoring
Program).
Shock Chlorination
The addition of a strong solution of liquid chlorine into a drinking water
system to reduce the presence of microbiological contaminants.
Small drinking water system
See "drinking water system."
Surface water
Surface water is i) any water body on the land surface, including running
water such as streams, rivers and brooks, or quiescent water such
as lakes, reservoirs and ponds. ii) water open to the atmosphere and subject
to surface run-off.
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Treated Water Reservoir
An enclosed storage facility/structure intended to hold finished (post-treatment)
water before it is distributed to consumers.
Unique facility/situation
Unique facilities exist, or situations may arise, that require special
attention in order to protect public health. Examples of unique facilities/situations
include:
- Canadian embassies overseas with water systems that have difficulty meeting
Canadian standards of sampling, testing, operator certification, availability
of regular training for operators, etc.
- Remote locations within Canada
- Seasonal facilities
- Water systems used for one-time large group events
- Special dedicated-use bottling plants (e.g., Canadian Forces overseas)
- Large scale domestic humanitarian deployments
- Emergencies
Very small system
See "drinking water system."
Vulnerabilities assessment
A comprehensive assessment of the vulnerability of the source water in
the environment. It includes three elements:
- Delineation of watersheds, aquifers and their protection areas;
- Identification of hazards, including contaminants of concern and their
sources (where possible to determine)
- Assessment of susceptibility to contamination, and ranking of the
hazards
See Section 3 for details. See also Sanitary
Survey, Baseline
Chemical Analysis, and Monitoring
Program.
Watershed
The area draining naturally from a system of watercourses and leading to
one body of water.
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