ministry of health.small water systems working group · 10/26/12 4 water(purveyor(role(•...
TRANSCRIPT
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Ministry of Health Ini6a6ves
Ministry of Health Ini1a1ves
• Use of Point of Use (POU)/Point of Entry (POE) treatment.
• EOCP Training Registry. • Source assessment tool to help small water systems. • Proposed regulatory amendments. – Mul6ple dwellings on single lots. – Nonpotable water systems.
• Groundwater Treatment Objec6ves.
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Point of Entry (POE) and Point of Use (POU) in the Current Drinking Water
Protec1on Regula1on
POE/POU and Drinking Water Protec1on Regula1on
Sec6on 3.1 (b) of the regula6on allows SWS to use POE/POU: “A small system is exempt from sec6on 6 of the Act if...
(b) each recipient of the water from the system has a point of entry or point of use treatment system that makes the water potable.”
Sec6on 6 of the Drinking Water Protec/on Act: water supply systems must provide potable water.
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Point of Entry Systems (POE)
• Nonpotable water is piped to every service user.
• POE devices treat all the water entering the property/house or building to make it potable.
Point of Use (POU) System
• Nonpotable water piped to every house. • POU devices treat water only at specific points where
potable water is required (e.g., a single outlet or faucet such as a kitchen sink).
• Typically, these devices use filters with or without ultraviolet (UV) radia6on.
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Water Purveyor Role
• The water supplier con6nues to be responsible for: – Obtaining all appropriate construc6on and opera6ng permits.
– Monitoring water quality. – Maintaining systems and dealing with opera6onal failures.
• These responsibili1es may change for MS under proposed defini1on.
Context in Considering POE System
• Treats only a por6on of flow delivered to the en6re system, e.g.: ‒ POE: only the water entering the building. ‒ POU: only the water at a specific tap.
• Irriga6on water can go untreated. • May be cheaper than centralized treatment for smaller
number of homes; there is a cost cut point. • Compact, modular designs can treat a wide range of
contaminants with ease of maintenance. • Can save space and reduce the need for land required for
centralized treatment.
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Challenges with POE Op1on
• Where centralized treatment already exists, switching to POE would o^en be cost prohibi6ve unless using POE for one parameter, such as arsenic.
• POE becomes less cost effec6ve as numbers of connec6ons increase.
• Long-‐term maintenance and access agreements between water supplier and users usually required.
• Sampling and maintenance requirements.
• Space requirements in private homes. • POE/POU systems need to be validated or NSF cer6fied.
Honeymoon Creek Water Users Community: A POE Success Story
• Water system on Bowen Island with eight POE connec6ons.
• Centralized system not prac6cal: – Small number of connec6ons. – Source water on private property. – Cost prohibi6ve to acquire land to build treatment facility.
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Honeymoon Creek: Opera1ng Condi1ons
• All residents must have a POE. • A signed agreement maintained between the operator
and all users.
• Monitoring schedule agreed to with DWO and operator/homeowners.
• Emergency response and con6ngency plan. • En6re distribu6on system must be flushed and super
chlorinated twice per year.
• Adherence to the opera6on and maintenance contract.
13 Residen1al* POE Systems in B.C. Water System Number of Connec1ons Popula1on Served
(approximate)
Fraser Health Authority – 4 POE/POU Systems
Summer Road Rate Payers Associa6on 39 120
Thunderbird Water Users Community 40 100
South Bright Water Users Community 19 60
Gibson Water Users Group 6 20
Interior Health Authority – 2 POE/POU Systems
North Boswell Water Users Community 15 40
North Beach Heights Water Users Community 4 14
Northern Health Authority – 1 POE/POU System
Glacier Gulch Group Water System 2 of 11 connec6ons (officially) N/A
Vancouver Coastal Health – 6 POE/POU Systems
Honeymoon Creek Water Users Community 9 (1 house burned down) 40
Mount Gardiner 15 50
Mon6zambert Wynd 13 40
Rockmoyne 10 40
Hagensborg Improvement District 220 386
Brighton Beach 22 50
Vancouver Island Health Authority – 0 POE/POU Systems
N/A N/A N/A
*There are many more commercial POE/POU systems across the province.
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POE/POU Resource Guide Book
• Applica1on of Point of Entry and Point of Use Water Treatment Technology in Bri1sh Columbia
• This document, commissioned by MoH, provides: – An introduc6on to POE/POU technology. – Examples of POE/POU applica6ons. – The capital and opera6ng cost considera6ons that contribute to decisions about the use of POE/POU.
– Informa6on to help compare POE/POU costs with those associated with centralized treatment.
• The document is at: hjp://www.health.gov.bc.ca/protect/poureport_main.pdf
Ques1ons about POE?
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Environmental Operators Cer1ficate Program (EOCP)
• Training registry for drinking water operators and waste water operators.
Why Care about Training?
• Legal and/or insurance requirements. • Costs related to lack of training. • Examples of posi6ves on the balance sheet: – Recruitment. – Succession planning. – Morale.
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Training Registry (TR) Website
www2.eocpsearch.org/ TrainingRegistry/index.php
EOCP Training Registry (TR)
• A conduit for everyone who wants to: GET Training – Look for training recognized for CEUs. – Look for recognized instructors. GIVE Training – Develop and offer CEU-‐recognized training. GROW Beyond Training – Find informa6on for career paths. – Figure out training requirements.
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TR Benefits: Reduce Direct Costs
• In-‐House Training with recognized instructors and courses: – Operators. – Instructor develops and delivers first 6me.
• Share/Barter: – Find other municipali6es’ instructors and courses.
• Other Efficiencies: – Manufacturers and suppliers with recognized instructors and courses, including training in construc6on bids.
TR Success Stories: Innova1ve Ini1a1ves
• Municipality of Saanich, Public Works – Based on cost-‐effec6ve business case created project.
• Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) – Created project aiming to reduce par6cipants’ costs and formalize their training.
• TR’s Current Entries: – Recognized Instructors:110 (36 Cer6fied Operators) – Recognized Courses: 364
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High-‐Level Cost Comparison: External/Internal Travel to Take External Tradi1onal Training – Assume: • Operator by airport with service to Vancouver; advanced booking. • Two-‐day training course + ½ day travel x 2.
Approxima1on (For Smithers)
Travel to Take External Tradi1onal Training Cost In-‐House
Transporta6on (air; taxis – return) $ 523 $ 0
Hotel ($125 x 2 nights) $ 250 $ 0
Meals ($75 x 3 days) $ 225 $ 0
Training course, es6mated rate (2 days) $ 525 $ 0
HST @12% on course fees $ 60 $ 0
Total 3rd party costs for 2 day (1.2 CEU) training course $1,583
Staff 6me (including travel /me) 3 days @ $250 $ 750 $ 500
Replacement for staff 3 days @ $250 $ 750 $ 500
Total $3,083 $ 1000
TR Benefits: Address Indirect Costs
• Quality and relevance of training. • Crea6ng efficiencies of process. • Succession planning. • Reten6on of staff – career path.
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Examples of Training Providers in the TR
Regional Districts & Municipali1es • City of Kelowna • Regional District of Okanagan-‐ Similkameen • City of Kamloops • Summerland Fire Department • Metro Vancouver • City of Vancouver • Corpora6on of Delta • Capital Regional District • Strathcona Regional District • Municipality of Saanich
Related Associa1ons
• BC Municipal Safety Associa6on • Water Supply Associa6on • BC Ground Water Associa6on • Public Works Associa6on of BC • BC Common Ground Alliance • Small Water Users Associa6on of BC • Mayne Island Integrated Water Systems Society
• Coastal Water Suppliers Associa6on • BC Water & Waste Associa6on
No. 1 Benefit: The more communi6es par6cipa6ng in the TR, the more this helps “connect the dots” and make it that much more useful as a central training database.
Ques1ons about Training Registry?
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Water System Assessment Tool and User Guide
• Helps operators of water supply systems: – Iden6fy hazards and assess risks. – Iden6fy ways to priori6ze risk. – Develop 6melines for improvement.
• Composed of a user guide and three forms that can be completed by hand or computer.
• Fills the gap between the Drinking Water Source-‐to-‐Tap Screening Tool and the Comprehensive Drinking Water Source-‐to-‐Tap Assessment.
Water System Assessment Tool
• Designed to be completed by the operator in about one day, and can be used as a template for a water source and system assessment order under the Drinking Water Protec/on Act.
• Allows for developing an ac6on plan to reduce risk to and in a water system, without the added cost and 6me commitment of comprehensive assessment.
• Facilitates communica6on with the drinking water officer (DWO), as the tool can be used to inspect water systems co-‐opera6vely with the operator or owner.
• Posted at hjp://www.health.gov.bc.ca/protect/water-‐system-‐assessment.html.
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Two Regulatory Proposals
• Consulta6on papers have been developed for: – Proposal for more than one dwelling on a single lots. – Proposal for nonpotable water use.
Secondary and Auxiliary Accommoda1ons on a Single Residen1al or Farm Property
Objec1ve: Clarify that secondary housing arrangements common on private residen6al or farm proper6es that will not be considered “water supply system” or SWS under the Drinking Water Protec/on Act.
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Proposed Secondary Housing on a Private Lot that Will NO Longer be deemed a Water Supply System
• Secondary/basement suites in a home. • Homes with dwelling units in ancillary buildings (e.g.
garage, carriage house, mobile, etc.).
• Duplex on a single property. • Owner-‐occupied B&Bs (four or less bedrooms). • Family farms or larger proper6es with a secondary
residence.
S1ll Regulated as Water Supply System
• Change would not include: – Mobile home parks. – Strata developments. – Shared-‐interest proper6es. – Commercial, recrea6onal or industrial proper6es. – Communal living accommoda6ons not covered by the Residen/al Tenancy Act, e.g.,: Care homes and assisted living facili6es.
Transi6on housing and shelters. Ins6tu6onal and correc6onal facili6es Schools and childcare facili6es.
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Expected Benefits of Regulatory Change • Clarifies the defini6on of a water supply system. • Reduces number of proper6es requiring an opera6ng
permit.
• Reduces demand on health authori6es and aligns with current prac6ce.
• Reduces barriers to secondary housing arrangements. • Promotes smart growth and affordable housing. • Removes redundancy with Public Health Act for rental
accommoda6on. • Strategically aligns with UBCM objec6ves surrounding
micro water systems.
Ques1ons about Secondary Housing Proposal?
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Nonpotable Water Systems
• Proposal to enable water supply systems to provide nonpotable water for uses not associated with human consump6on or food prepara6on.
Nonpotable Water Systems
• Examples of uses unrelated to food prepara6on or human consump6on where nonpotable water may be used: – Untreated rain water, or lake water for flushing toilets, hand washing or other purposes in parks, remote lodges and highway rest stops.
– Communal reclaimed water systems for toilet flushing. – Other situa6ons with a limited supply of potable water.
– Irriga6on.
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Nonpotable Water Proposal
• Enable use of nonpotable water where unlikely to pose a health risk – e.g., toilets and urinals.
• Facilitate “low-‐cost” alterna6ves where potable water is not required.
• Support and complement revisions to B.C.’s Building Code for nonpotable water use.
• Remove poten6al barriers for water conserva6on ini6a6ves, such as B.C.’s “Living Water Smart.”
• Help reduce demand on water sources and volume of water that must be treated before release to the environment.
Nonpotable Water Proposal
• Standards for Safety of Nonpotable Uses: ‒ Toilet and urinal flushing:
Guidelines for Domes/c Reclaimed Water Use in Toilet and Urinal Flushing (Health Canada)
‒ Hand washing/bathing: Guidelines for Recrea/onal Water Quality (Health
Canada) ‒ Irriga6on:
Code of Prac/ce for Use of Reclaimed Water (MoE) ‒ Marking/signage of nonpotable piping and outlets
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Consulta1on: Single-‐Family Dwelling and Nonpotable Water Proposal
• Ministry of Health issued two stakeholder discussion documents to stakeholders (including UBCM) on August 7, 2012.
• Responses are currently under review, but the ministry is prepared to accept any further feedback as a result of this discussion.
• Please send comments to [email protected] by October 12, 2012.
Ques1ons about Nonpotable Water?
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Groundwater Treatment Objec1ves
Groundwater Classifica1on
• Drinking Water Protec1on Regula1on s. 5(2)(b) • Drinking water from a water supply system must be
disinfected by a water supplier if the water originates from ground water that, in the opinion of a drinking water officer, is at risk of containing pathogens.
• Pathogens of concern are bacteria, protozoa and viruses.
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Current Groundwater Treatment Objec1ves
• Currently, RHAs use the Canadian guidelines: – Groundwater guidance is nonspecific and does not reflect mi6ga6ng factors.
– Canadian guidelines are GWUDI-‐based only and do not account for site-‐specific factors.
• B.C. objec6ves are evidence based and flexible to accommodate local risk factors: – Water quality results. – Source type and loca6on. – Well construc6on. – Aquifer type and sewng.
Groundwater Water Well Risk Classifica1on
• The dra^ B.C. groundwater treatment objec6ves will consider the following: – GWUDI: Groundwater under direct influence of surface water.
– GARP: Groundwater “at risk” of having pathogens. – Groundwater “at low risk” of having pathogens. – Key approach is to determine if a well is “at risk” or “at low risk” through a risk-‐based assessment tool.
– Treatment objec6ves will differ between categories.
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Iden1fying Groundwater at Risk of Containing Pathogens (GARP)
• Guidance Document for Determining GARP • Risk-‐based assessment tool for groundwater sources. • MOE posted previous GWUDI/GARP document in 2007. • Preliminary dialogue in May at UBCM SWS – released by MoH in April 2012.
• Based on versions available previously and updated. • Differen6ates GARP (“at risk”) wells from “low risk” wells. • Improves upon approaches in other jurisdic6ons that just say all groundwater under the direct influence of surface water is at risk.
• Applies site-‐specific evidence to establish risk levels.
• Drinking Water Treatment Objec1ves (Microbiological) for Ground Water Supplies in Bri1sh Columbia
• Will act as guidance for sewng microbiological treatment objec6ves for all drinking water systems. drawing from groundwater supplies in B.C.
• Will link to GARP classifica6on document. • Currently under development.
Groundwater Treatment Objec1ves
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Drag Groundwater Treatment Objec1ves
• Provides treatment objec6ves based on the GARP assessment process. ‒ Provides for groundwater wells classified as “low risk” to have reduced or no treatment requirements.
‒ “At risk” groundwater systems required to meet minimum treatment objec6ves – equivalent to surface water.
‒ Includes a process for credi6ng subsurface (riverbank) filtra6on as a treatment mechanism.
Consulta1on: Groundwater Treatment Objec1ves
• Treatment objec6ves consulta6on document will be issued in October 2012.
• Ministry of Health will also consider any comments on the GARP classifica6on document because they are linked.
• Plan is to conduct a broader consulta6on with other stakeholders a^er UBCM review.
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Ques1ons about Groundwater?
Canadian Guidelines 3.4 Considera1ons for Groundwater Systems In keeping with the mul6-‐barrier approach to drinking water quality management,
systems using secure groundwater sources should: • Ensure that groundwater wells are properly constructed, are located in areas
where there is minimum poten6al for contamina6on and have appropriate wellhead protec6on measures in place. These source protec6on measures protect public health by reducing the risk of the drinking water source becoming contaminated.
• Ensure that treatment is sufficient to achieve 4-‐log reduc1on of viruses by disinfec1on. It is important to confirm that elevated turbidity levels will not compromise the disinfec6on process.
• Maintain a chlorine residual throughout the distribu1on system and ensure that water quality is monitored and maintained. Well-‐designed and well-‐operated distribu6on systems are key to providing safe, clean drinking water to consumers.
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U V Chlorine
Mul6ple Risks – Mul6ple Barriers Minimum Surface Treatment: 2 Barriers
Virus Virus
Virus
Virus
Bacteria Virus
Bacteria
Bacteria
Protozoa
Protozoa
Filtration
TURBIDITY
Bacteria
Virus
Distribu6on system
Protozoa
Pathogens
Bacteria: Fecal coliform, Escherichia coli Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella
Protozoa: Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
Viruses: rotavirus, hepaBBs A, adenovirus
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Canadian Groundwater Outbreaks
• 47 outbreaks over last 20 years • 40% groundwater related; • 10% ground/surface • 53% groundwater under direct influence of surface water
• 66% reported a protected well head
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Disease/Water Outbreaks in BC
• Cases of enteric diseases reported in BC in 2007 and 2008; * water is not necessarily the only source
• Between 1980 and 2004 – 29 confirmed waterborne outbreaks
• Outbreaks in small systems more difficult to characterize
Enteric disease 2007 2008
Campylobacteriosis* 1639 1635
Giardiasis 649 632
Cryptosporidiosis 88 115
Verotoxigenic E. coli* 183 114
Salmonellosis* 792 922
Total 3,351 3,418
Notable BC Outbreaks Year Loca1on Disease Suspected Cases
(Confirmed) Suspected Source
Details (at 1me)
1995 Victoria Toxoplasmosis 3000 (110 lab conf.)
Cats/cougars in watershed
Disinfected surface water (no filtra6on or UV)
1995 Revelstoke Giardia, Camplylobacter
Hundreds Beaver No filtra6on or disinfec6on
1996 Cranbrook Cryptosporidium 2097 (29 lab conf.)
Cajle in watershed
Disinfected surface water (no filtra6on or UV)
1996 Kelowna Cryptosporidium 10000 (177 lab conf.)
Cross connec6on Disinfected surface water (no filtra6on or UV)
1997 Princeton Norwalk 88% of popula6on Sewage contamina6on
Disinfected water (no filtra6on or UV)
1998 Chilliwack Cryptosporidium 19 lab confirmed Animals in watershed
Disinfected surface water at the 6me (no filtra6on or UV)
1998 Sunshine Coast
Campylobacter 26 lab confirmed Wildlife in watershed
Non-‐disinfected water (BWN in place at 6me)
2004 Hagensborg Campylobacter 5 lab confirmed Wildlife in watershed
Untreated surface water (on BWN at 6me)