Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002
In the Part Two Report of the Walkerton Inquiry, Commissioner Dennis O’Connor recommended that the Ontario government enact a Safe Drinking Water Act to deal with matters related to treatment and distribution of drinking water. As articulated by Commissioner O’Connor, the purpose of the Safe Drinking Water Act is to gather in one place all legislation and regulations relating to the treatment and distribution of drinking water.
As recommended by Commissioner O’Connor, the government has passed a Safe Drinking Water Act, which expands on existing policy and practice and introduces new features to protect drinking water in Ontario. The act's purpose is to protect human health through the control and regulation of drinking-water systems and drinking-water testing. The act also provides legislative authority to implement 50 of the 93 recommendations made in Commissioner O’Connor’s Part Two Report.
Sustainable Water and Sewage Systems Act, 2002
The Sustainable Water and Sewage Systems Act, 2002 helps ensure clean, safe drinking water for Ontario residents by making it mandatory for municipalities to assess and cost-recover the full amount of water and sewer services. It is also another indication of the government’s commitment to implement all recommendations of the Walkerton Inquiry.
Laboratory Licensing
The Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 (SDWA) and the Drinking Water Testing Services Regulation (O. Reg. 248/03) require any laboratory that performs drinking water testing to obtain a licence effective October 1, 2003. In addition, the SDWA requires owners and operating authorities of drinking water systems regulated under the Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O. Reg. 170/03) to use a licensed laboratory for drinking water testing.
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