Regulation - LGIC
Regulatory Amendments to Update Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards, and Testing and Reporting Requirements
Regulation Number(s):
Ontario Regulation 169/03 and Ontario Regulation 170/03
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002
Summary of Decision:
On December 18, 2014 the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change sought input on the "Technical Discussion Paper on Proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards" through Environmental Registry notice # 012-1594. The discussion paper proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 169/03 (Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards) made under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 (SDWA) in order to adopt new drinking water standards for chlorate, chlorite, 2 methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), and haloacetic acids (HAAs), and to revise the existing standards for arsenic, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and vinyl chloride.
On August 14, 2015, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change posted proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 169/03 (Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards) and Ontario Regulation 170/03 (Drinking Water Systems) made under the SDWA, and outlined certain changes to municipal licences that would be needed to update drinking water standards, and testing and reporting requirements.
A decision was made to proceed with the amendments to O. Reg. 169/03 and O. Reg. 170/03 consistent with the proposals as described, with minor modifications as a result of comments received during public consultation.
On August 14, 2015, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change posted proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 169/03 (Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards) and Ontario Regulation 170/03 (Drinking Water Systems) made under the SDWA, and outlined certain changes to municipal licences that would be needed to update drinking water standards, and testing and reporting requirements.
A decision was made to proceed with the amendments to O. Reg. 169/03 and O. Reg. 170/03 consistent with the proposals as described, with minor modifications as a result of comments received during public consultation.
Further Information:
Link to Environmental Registry
Proposal Number:
15-MOE013
Posting Date:
August 17, 2015
Summary of Proposal:
On December 18, 2014 the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change sought stakeholder input on the "Technical Discussion Paper on Proposed Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards" through EBR Registry # 012-1594.
The discussion paper proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 169/03 (Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards) made under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 (SDWA) in order to adopt new drinking water standards for chlorate, chlorite, 2 methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), and haloacetic acids (HAAs), and to revise the existing standards for arsenic, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and vinyl chloride.
The ministry is now seeking input on a more specific proposal to amend Ontario Regulation 169/03 and Ontario Regulation 170/03 (Drinking Water Systems) made under the SDWA, as well as any municipal licenses as appropriate in order to update the drinking water standards, and testing and reporting requirements. The proposed regulatory amendments incorporate stakeholder feedback, and fall into two groups:
Amendments needed to implement the standards updates
a. Implementing the proposed standards as per the discussion paper
b. Updating the sampling and testing requirements
Amendments being proposed to respond to stakeholder comments
a. Simplifying the reporting and resampling for trihalomethanes (THMs) and HAAs
b. Optimizing testing frequencies for smaller systems with a history of low levels of THMs and HAAs
c. Updating the chemical lists to remove legacy pesticides no longer in use, have been delisted, and have not been detected in drinking water samples for at least ten years
d. Providing phase-in periods for amendments to take effect
The discussion paper proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 169/03 (Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards) made under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 (SDWA) in order to adopt new drinking water standards for chlorate, chlorite, 2 methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), and haloacetic acids (HAAs), and to revise the existing standards for arsenic, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and vinyl chloride.
The ministry is now seeking input on a more specific proposal to amend Ontario Regulation 169/03 and Ontario Regulation 170/03 (Drinking Water Systems) made under the SDWA, as well as any municipal licenses as appropriate in order to update the drinking water standards, and testing and reporting requirements. The proposed regulatory amendments incorporate stakeholder feedback, and fall into two groups:
Amendments needed to implement the standards updates
a. Implementing the proposed standards as per the discussion paper
b. Updating the sampling and testing requirements
Amendments being proposed to respond to stakeholder comments
a. Simplifying the reporting and resampling for trihalomethanes (THMs) and HAAs
b. Optimizing testing frequencies for smaller systems with a history of low levels of THMs and HAAs
c. Updating the chemical lists to remove legacy pesticides no longer in use, have been delisted, and have not been detected in drinking water samples for at least ten years
d. Providing phase-in periods for amendments to take effect
Contact Address:
Effective Date:
December 1, 2015
Decision:
Approved