Providing safe drinking water is a core public health service. Health Canada, in collaboration with the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water, developed Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines. Each guideline was established based on published scientific research related to health effects, aesthetic effects, and operational considerations. This research forms the basis of Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ). The GCDWQ has specific standards for the microbiological, chemical, physical and radiological quality of drinking water in Canada.
In BC, water suppliers (including small water systems) are expected to provide potable water (defined as “safe to drink and fit for domestic purposes without further treatment”) that meets the water quality criteria set out in the GCDWQ. The minimum level of treatment to make drinking water safe (microbiologically and chemically) will depend on the type of source water and its quality.
Treatment for Pathogens
Pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms (or microbes), and the most frequent cause of water-borne illness. They include bacteria, viruses and protozoa. These waterborne pathogens can cause diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, nausea, headaches, fever, fatigue, and sometimes even death. Infants, children, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get sick, suffer, and possibly die from pathogens in drinking water.
Under BC's Drinking Water Protection Regulation (DWPR), disinfection is required if the water originates from (a) surface water or (b) groundwater at risk of containing pathogens (GARP). Under the DWPR, “surface water” is defined as “water from a source which is open to the atmosphere and includes streams, lakes, rivers, creeks and springs.”
Treating the source water to reduce or inactivate pathogens is referred to as Primary Disinfection. Secondary Disinfection is discussed under the section Designing Treatment for Small Water Systems and relates to the maintenance of a disinfectant residual throughout the distribution system.
No single treatment method is effective at removing all microbiological hazards. It is important to utilize a multi-barrier approach, which involves the use of two or more forms of treatment. Water treatment is only one part of the multi-barrier approach to providing safe drinking water. Choosing an appropriate water source, protecting that source and reducing distribution system risks, together with treatment, are essential steps in reducing microbiological threats to drinking water.
Minimum Treatment Objectives
The BC Ministry of Health’s drinking water treatment objectives provide a minimum performance target for water suppliers to produce microbiologically safe drinking water. The actual amount of treatment required will depend on the risks you’ve identified for your water source. Your particular situation may require greater levels of treatment. Your local Drinking Water Officer (DWO) may require additional treatment requirements in your operating permit, and will need adequate data to address the public health risks based on the microbiological and chemical quality of your source water. In all cases, the DWO must be contacted to confirm the necessary treatment objectives for microbiological parameters when planning or upgrading water supply systems. The regional health authority’s Public Health Engineer (PHE) should also be contacted as they can provide technical information regarding treatment processes.
To reduce the risk of waterborne illness, the minimum treatment objectives for surface water and GARP sources are:
- 4-log (99.99%) reduction or inactivation of enteric viruses
- 3-log (99.9%) reduction or inactivation of protozoa (Giardia and Cryptosporidium)
- Two treatment processes for surface water
- Less than or equal to (≤) one (1) nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) of turbidity
- No detectable E. coli, Fecal Coliform and Total Coliform.
These treatment objectives are set based on an assumed level of pathogen in the raw water and a target level of pathogen in the treated water and they are considered a minimum requirement. Water with really high levels of pathogens may require a greater log reduction (such as a 7-log reduction of viruses).
Design and construction guidelines for BC waterworks
Design Guidelines for Rural Residential Community Water Systems, BC, 2012
The Master Municipal Construction Documents (MMCD) Standard Specifications and Drawings, BC, 2022
Guidelines for the Construction of Waterworks, Interior Health, BC, 2014
For more information on viruses, refer to Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document -- Enteric Viruses
BC Ministry of Health’s Small Water System Guidebook
Design Guidelines for Rural Residential Community Water Systems
The Master Municipal Construction Documents (MMCD) Standard Specifications and Drawings
Guidelines for the Construction of Waterworks, Interior Health
Small water systems design guidelines (groundwater source), Northern Health
Small water systems design guidelines (surface water source), Northern Health
Lists of certified water treatment devices and systems are available on NSF’s Certified Products and Systems web page under “Water and Wastewater” then open the link to “NSF Certified Drinking Water Treatment Units, Water Filters