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June 2005

Fact Sheet

Public Right to Request a Drinking Water Investigation

Under the new Drinking Water Compliance and Enforcement Regulation the public now has the right to request an investigation of alleged violations of the drinking water provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

This fulfills recommendation 76 of the Part Two Report of the Walkerton Inquiry.

A member of the public may directly request an investigation by completing and sending an investigation request form to the Director of the Investigations and Enforcement Branch.

The Safe Drinking Water Act does protect the personal information provided by applicants, although, the information may be disclosed if the investigation results in further ministry action such as:

• a prosecution, or
• other administrative action such as a Provincial Officer’s Order being issued.

The investigation request form is available on the Ministry of the Environment web site: www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/gp/5143e.pdf

Applicants need to provide detailed information to complete an application:

• The section number under the Safe Drinking Water Act, or Regulation and/or Instrument number under the Act that the alleged or suspected violation applies to.
• The name(s) and address(es) of the person(s) or organization who have contravened the Act.
• A detailed description of the contravention.
• A harm to health rationale for why this should warrant an investigation.
• Evidence to support the allegation.
• The applicant’s previous contact(s) with the Ministry of the Environment.

The applicant will be notified when the application is received, given an estimate of the time required and of the outcome of the investigation.

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