Small Drinking Water System Operators
If your business or organization provides drinking water that does not come directly from a municipal source, you could be operating a small drinking water system (SDWS). Small drinking water systems can be found at restaurants, hotels, motels, seasonal trailer parks, recreational facilities, summer camps, community centres, libraries, gas stations, churches, and many other public facilities.
York Region Public Health inspects all small drinking water systems in York Region. You can view the most recent inspection results through the York Safe Inspection Program.
Operating a small drinking water system
Owners/operators of small drinking water systems are required to comply with Ontario Regulation 319/08, Small Drinking Water Systems, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Please review the information below to learn about your roles and responsibilities under the Regulation.
How and when to notify Public Health (Reporting Forms)
Owners/operators of small drinking water systems are required to submit a reporting form to public health to:
- Open a new small drinking water system
Submit the Small Drinking Water System Identification Form - Reopen a seasonal small drinking water system (after a 60-day closure)
Submit the Notice to Operate or Reopen a Small Drinking Water System Form and test your water prior to opening or submit an Application to Open Small Drinking Water System - Change ownership of a small drinking water system
Submit the Notice to Operate or Reopen a Small Drinking Water System Form
or contact York Region Health Connection 1-800-361-5653 to speak with a public health inspector - Close temporarily for the season
Submit the Notice to Operate or Reopen a Small Drinking Water System Form
or contact York Region Health Connection 1-800-361-5653 to speak with a public health inspector - Identify which licensed laboratory will test your drinking water samples
Submit the Laboratory Services Notification Form - Designate a small drinking water system operator
Submit the Small Drinking Water Systems Operator Designation Form - Report an adverse water quality incident and/or resolution
Submit the Notice of Adverse Test Results and Issue Resolution Form to:- Report an adverse (unsatisfactory) test result
- Report an adverse observation (e.g., low chlorine residual or malfunctioning UV light treatment system)
- Report actions taken to resolve the issue
Directives for Small Drinking Water Systems
York Region public health inspectors conduct an on-site assessment of each small drinking water system in York Region to determine what owners/operators must do to establish and maintain a safe drinking water supply.
At the end of the assessment, a public health inspector will give the owner/operator a written ‘directive,’ which is a document that outlines the operational requirements you must carry out. The directive may include requirements related to water testing, water treatment and/or owner/operator training. You must keep a copy of the directive on-site at all times.
For more information, visit Small Drinking Water Systems Directives: Get to Know the Law.
Water Sampling and Testing
Owners/operators of small drinking water systems are responsible for sampling and testing their small drinking water system to ensure it is safe to drink.
What should I test for?
At a minimum, you are required to test your water for E. coli and total coliform bacteria. Following a risk assessment of your system, York Region Public Health will provide you with a directive that may list additional tests you need to perform.
You must keep your testing records for five years and make them available to the public if requested, for a period of two years.
How do I choose a laboratory to test my water?
You are required to test your water at a laboratory that is licensed or approved by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
Once you choose a laboratory and make a service agreement with them, you must notify York Region Public Health. Please complete the Laboratory Services Notification Form and submit it by email to the York Region Public Health at @email
For more information, visit Small Drinking Water Systems: Sampling and Testing.
Water Treatment
If you own/operate a small drinking water system that treats water, you must ensure the water treatment equipment meets specific requirements. Following a risk assessment of your system, York Region Public Health will provide you with a directive that will outline any treatment requirements you must carry out.
To discuss appropriate treatment options for your small drinking water system, contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 to speak to a public health inspector.
For more information, visit Small Drinking Water Systems: Treatment Options.
Reporting an Adverse Water Quality Incident
When something goes wrong with a small drinking water system, it is called an ‘adverse water quality incident’ (AWQI). An AWQI may include either an adverse (unsatisfactory) test result or an adverse observation that indicates something may be wrong with your system (e.g., low chlorine residual or malfunctioning UV light treatment system).
Steps to Report an Adverse Water Quality Incident (AWQI)
Owners/operators of small drinking water system are required to follow the steps below as soon as you are aware of an AWQI related to your system, to protect users from getting ill.
- Report to York Region Public Health immediately by phone
If you are reporting an AWQI during regular office hours (Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), call York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 or TTY 2-866-512-6228 (for the deaf or hard of hearing) to speak with a public health inspector.
If you are reporting an AWQI outside of regular office hours, please call 1-800-335-0111 (answering service) to leave a message for the on-call public health inspector. Please leave your name, contact number and reason for your call (e.g., adverse water result or adverse observation). - Send a written notice to the York Region Public Health
Fill out the Notice of Adverse Test Results and Issue Resolution Form and follow instructions to fax, email or deliver the completed form to York Region Public Health within 24 hours of the initial report you made by phone. - Report an Adverse Water Quality Incident Resolution
When the AWQI has been corrected, you will be advised by a public health inspector to submit the Notice of Adverse Test Results and Issue Resolution Form and email it to @email.
For more information, visit Small Drinking Water Systems: Response to Adverse Events.
Training Requirements and Resources
Owners/operators of small drinking water systems must be trained in drinking water system operations and maintenance under the Ontario Regulation 319/08. Following a risk assessment of your system, a public health inspector will give you a directive that will indicate what training you require.
Please review the directive provided to you by the public health inspector to determine what training you require.
Training courses
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre is a recognized training facility that offers a variety of training courses for owners/operators of small drinking water systems in Ontario. Please visit Walkerton Clean Water Centre for training course availability and important resources that will help you safely operate and maintain your small drinking water system.
For more information, visit Small Drinking Water Systems: Operator Training.
Operation guidelines
Related Resources
- Small Drinking Water Systems: New Small Drinking Systems Program FAQ
- Small Drinking Water Systems Regulations: Get to Know the Law
- Small Drinking Water Systems Directives: Get to Know the Law
- Small Drinking Water Systems: Source Water
- Small Drinking Water Systems: Treatment Options
- Small Drinking Water Systems: Response to Adverse Events
- Small Drinking Water Systems: Sampling and Testing
- Small Drinking Water Systems: Operator Training
- Small Drinking Water System Identification Form
- Notice to Operate or Reopen a Small Drinking Water System Form
- Small Drinking Water Systems Operator Designation Form
- Laboratory Services Notification Form
- List of Licensed Laboratory
- Ministry of Health Long Term Care – Small Drinking Water Systems Risk Assessment Guideline
- Small Drinking Water System Operator’s Guide
- Well Records Request Form