Regulation - Other
Technical Discussion Paper on Proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards
Regulation Number(s):
Ontario Regulation 169/03
Instrument Type:
Regulation - Other
Bill or Act:
Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002
Summary of Proposal:
Ontario Regulation 169/03 (Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards) provides three Schedules listing the reportable maximum acceptable levels for Microbiological Standards (Schedule 1), Chemical Standards (Schedule 2), and the Radiological Standards (Schedule 3) prescribed as drinking water quality standards for the purposes of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002.
The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change is seeking stakeholder input on the "Technical Discussion Paper on Proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards" that proposes regulatory amendments to Schedule 2 of Ontario Regulation 169/03 to adopt new Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards for chlorate, chlorite, 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), and, haloacetic acids (HAAs) and to revise the existing Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards for arsenic, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and vinyl chloride. The Technical Discussion Paper on Proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards provides an overview of the process used by the ministry for the proposed changes for each contaminant and seeks stakeholder input for questions related to the proposed numerical value, benefits of adopting the proposed standard, impacts to municipalities and drinking water system owners, and the time-frame for implementation.
The following summarizes the proposed changes to Ontario Regulation 169/03- Drinking Water Quality Standards:
Revise the current Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.025 mg/L to a more stringent value of 0.010 mg/L for Arsenic;
Revise the current Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.005 mg/L to a more stringent value of 0.002 mg/L for Carbon tetrachloride;
Revise the current Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.005 mg/L to a more stringent value of 0.001 mg/L for Benzene;
Revise the current Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.002 mg/L to a more stringent value of 0.001 mg/L for Vinyl Chloride;
Adopt an Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 1 mg/L for chlorite;
Adopt an Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 1 mg/L for chlorate;
Adopt an Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.1 mg/L for 2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA); and,
Adopt an Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.080 mg/L for haloacetic acids as an annual average of quarterly samples.
The ministry is seeking comments or concerns on any or all of the proposed standards from any interested stakeholders. The following questions highlight areas of interest to the ministry with respect to each of the proposed drinking water quality standards but interested stakeholders need not limit comments/concerns exclusively to the following questions:
The ministry would like stakeholder input on the following questions:
Do you agree with the proposed numerical values for the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards described in this document?
What benefits do you see in adopting the proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards?
What are the potential impacts on municipalities and other drinking water system owners to meet the proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards?
What is the desired time-frame for implementation of the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards and why?
The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change is seeking stakeholder input on the "Technical Discussion Paper on Proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards" that proposes regulatory amendments to Schedule 2 of Ontario Regulation 169/03 to adopt new Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards for chlorate, chlorite, 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), and, haloacetic acids (HAAs) and to revise the existing Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards for arsenic, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and vinyl chloride. The Technical Discussion Paper on Proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards provides an overview of the process used by the ministry for the proposed changes for each contaminant and seeks stakeholder input for questions related to the proposed numerical value, benefits of adopting the proposed standard, impacts to municipalities and drinking water system owners, and the time-frame for implementation.
The following summarizes the proposed changes to Ontario Regulation 169/03- Drinking Water Quality Standards:
Revise the current Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.025 mg/L to a more stringent value of 0.010 mg/L for Arsenic;
Revise the current Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.005 mg/L to a more stringent value of 0.002 mg/L for Carbon tetrachloride;
Revise the current Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.005 mg/L to a more stringent value of 0.001 mg/L for Benzene;
Revise the current Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.002 mg/L to a more stringent value of 0.001 mg/L for Vinyl Chloride;
Adopt an Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 1 mg/L for chlorite;
Adopt an Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 1 mg/L for chlorate;
Adopt an Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.1 mg/L for 2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA); and,
Adopt an Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard of 0.080 mg/L for haloacetic acids as an annual average of quarterly samples.
The ministry is seeking comments or concerns on any or all of the proposed standards from any interested stakeholders. The following questions highlight areas of interest to the ministry with respect to each of the proposed drinking water quality standards but interested stakeholders need not limit comments/concerns exclusively to the following questions:
The ministry would like stakeholder input on the following questions:
Do you agree with the proposed numerical values for the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards described in this document?
What benefits do you see in adopting the proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards?
What are the potential impacts on municipalities and other drinking water system owners to meet the proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards?
What is the desired time-frame for implementation of the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards and why?
Further Information:
Link to Environmental Registry
Proposal Number:
14-MOE009
Posting Date:
January 6, 2015
Comments Due Date:
February 16, 2015