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Print | YORK REGION>Services>Water>Water Quality |
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Drinking Water Quality Management Standard | |||||||||
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Water & Wastewater | |||||||||
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In 2007, the Ministry of the Environment released its Drinking Water Quality Management Standard (DWQMS). The management system standard was created in response to the Walkerton water quality tragedy (2000) and the resulting recommendations from the inquiry provided by Justice O'Connor in 2002. The DWQMS is a 'made-in-Ontario' solution that harmonizes a number of elements from internationally recognized standards such as the ISO 9001 quality management standard and the HACCP food and pharmaceutical industry standard. In mid-2007, Ontario Regulation 188/07 was released, legislating that all Ontario drinking water systems adopt the DWQMS in a phased approach with the first systems submitting documentation by January 1, 2009. Beginning in early 2009, drinking water systems in Ontario will be audited and accredited to the DWQMS by a third party.
York Region submitted an Operational Plan for 9 drinking water systems in late 2008. The 9 systems accredited to the DWQMS include:
As the backbone of the Operational Plan, an Integrated Management Systems Policy was created. This policy harmonizes the requirements of the existing management systems requirements with the new DWQMS. York Region is currently registered to ISO 14001 for its wastewater operations and ISO 9001 for its drinking water operations. The accreditation to the DWQMS, along with York Region's registrations to the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards, demonstrate the Region's continued commitment to the provision of safe water and wastewater services. For more information on the DWQMS and the York Region Operational Plan, please contact the Environmental Services Department, Regulatory Compliance and Policy group (Environmental Services reception - extension 3000). | ||||||||
