Current legislation outlines in detail responsibilities in the areas of source protection, construction and plan approvals, treatment, monitoring, emergency response planning, and reporting requirements.
These regulations offer improved “source to tap” protection of water supplies and support a more aggressive response to threats to water quality.
The current legislation for drinking water safety in BC includes:
- Drinking Water Protection Act (DWPA)
- Drinking Water Protection Regulation (DWPR)
- Water Act
- Ground Water Protection Regulation (GWPR)
Drinking Water Protection Act and Regulation
While public notification, self-monitoring, and emergency response plans were introduced in the Safe Drinking Water Regulation (1992), the requirements of the DWPA and DWPR (May 2003) are even stronger. Some of the criteria include:
- annual reporting requirements
- qualification standards for operators
- water testing by accredited labs
- specific reporting requirements for suspected threats to water potability
- floodproofing of wells
- water source and system assessments
- source and system protection requirements
- drinking water protection plans
Electronic versions of BC legislation can be viewed online at the Queen’s Printers website. These are not the official versions but can be useful references.
http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/list_statreg.htmWater Act and Ground Water Protection Regulation
The Water Act provides much of the control of water sources. It also outlines the requirements for the administration of water licences to such agencies as water user communities, municipalities, and improvement districts.
The Ground Water Protection Regulation (GWPA) specifies:
- qualifications required for well drillers and pump installers
- well standards and the necessary steps to protect ground water
- requirements for the protection of existing wells
- deactivation steps for wells no longer in use
Under the new drinking water legislation, the province has raised the standards for assessing water systems, certifying operators and suppliers, and monitoring and reporting on water quality.
In addition, the new legislation now includes the specific requirements of the Drinking Water Protection Act and Regulation as well as those of the GWPR.
Improved standards at all levels of water supply will ensure safe, reliable, and accessible drinking water for all British Columbians.