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Drinking Water Advisory

Presentation on March 10, 2010Niagara Falls, Ontario

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INAC Boil Water Advisory (BWA) Activities

• In March 2009 INAC supported OFNTSC with BWA Case Study Meetings.

• INAC circulates Health Canada WaterTrax report to staff weekly, who may be travelling to FN communities. Information shared with officers working with communities in capital and maintenance.

• Health Canada and INAC have established a DWA working group, to improve communications and develop action plans for First Nations on a Boil Water Advisory.

• INAC continues to provide funding under First Nations Water & Wastewater Action Plan to support operator training, CRTP, enhanced O&M funding for water & wastewater systems, capital infrastructure and the 24/7 Technical Support and First Response services.

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Dinking Water Advisory Types

Type I = Boil Water Type II = Compromised ImmunityType III = Do Not ConsumeType IV = ConserveType V = Do not use

Drinking Water Advisory Reasons

1) Significant Deterioration in source water quality2) Equipment malfunction during treatment or distribution3) Inadequate disinfection or disinfectant residuals4) Unacceptable Microbiological quality5) Unacceptable Turbidities or particle counts6) Operation of system would compromise public health7) Epidemiological evidence indicates the drinking water is or may be

responsible for an outbreak of illness

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Ontario Region BWA Stats (as of Feb.12, 2010)

• 29 of 123 First Nation communities are on a BWA

• 54 out of 189 Community Water System (CWS) are on a BWA (some FNs have more than one system)

• All 54 BWA are Type I advisory (boil water before consumption)

• Advisory Reasons 1 through 6 for BWAs

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High Priority Systems

• In 2006, of the 21 high priority water systems identified nationally, Ontario Region had 8 First Nation communities.

• To date, five (5) of the high priority systems have been addressed and work continues on remaining three (3) high priority systems.

Risk Assessments

• 14 First Nations identified as high risk (July 2010), a reduction from 32 high risk communities in 2006.

• Risk assessments are done annually, with fluctuations throughout the year.

Risk Level Factors

• the source of water• the design of the plant• the operations and maintenance of plant• reporting compliance• certification of plant operator

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From BWA Case Study Meetings:

1) General operations of the facility

2) Lack of operator training

3) A non-compliant facility

4) Lack of water quality verification

From INAC review:

A. Watertrax Update Required

B. Testing as per HC Protocol

C. Easy Fix (chlorine/pumps) etc.

D. Operational problems

E. Distribution

F. Major Upgrades or New Plant

G. Systems/Equipment

H. Other

Categories/Indicators for BWAs

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From original DWA working group:

• Put in place a longer term dedicated BWA team with expertise in WTP design/operation and a budget to allow travel into communities under a BWA. INAC subsequently implemented a 24/7 Technical Support and First Response emergency hot line.

• Establish HUBs at the Tribal Council level, specifically in the North where other HUB type operations are not available. The HUB would provide support to the WTP operators and oversee the operation of the WTPs. SWOP was the answer on a short term basis to the HUB proposals and to address the Minister’s commitment.

• Undertake regular inspection of WTPs by trained personnel.

• Provide additional funding for O&M (conditions apply). An O&M model was developed that provides over $9 million in additional O&M to FN communities.

• Provide contingency/emergency funding to Tribal Councils to allow intervention prior to or shortly after a BWA is issued. (not implemented, but in many ways included in item 1.)

Previous Recommendations for Removing BWA

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• Recognizing that operator training is a long term objective we are making progress in this area however with some set-backs as trained operators leave to seek higher paying jobs or are let go by Chief and Council.

• The newer operators need to be screened to ensure they have the abilities and education. Long serving operators need to be assessed that they are qualified and capable of operating the FN’s WTP. Resent changes to MOE certification requirements.

• Inadequate water testing, record keeping and reporting.

• WTPs that require significant upgrading is also a long term undertaking, hence these types of BWAs will not be reduced quickly. O&M plan to be linked with operator training plan. Look at interim solutions.

• From a funding perspective it’s not necessarily a money issue as there have been significant increases in O&M, such as SWOP, 24/7, CRTP & Training.

• Chief and Council support and leadership is absolutely necessary and water issues must remain a high priority.

• Monitoring of funds is required to ensure they stay in with WTP budget, consider changes to flexible transfer payments.

General Comments on Issues Leading to BWAs