scholarly journals Towards a Sustainable Small Non-Community Drinking Water System in Ontario: Owners’ Risk Awareness and Perceptions to Water Safety

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Fatih Sekercioglu ◽  
Jerry White ◽  
Dan Shrubsole ◽  
Jamie Baxter

In Ontario, small non-community drinking water systems are defined as systems that make drinking water available to the public and are not connected to a community drinking water system. This study, using qualitative research approach, examines the risk awareness and perceptions of small non-community drinking water system owners in providing safe drinking water to their clients and protecting their water source. Our study yields the need for developing a sustainable operation model for small non-community drinking water systems. The study results provide recommendations to the regulatory agency for effective and efficient administration of the program such as offering customized and affordable training opportunities and developing effective communication strategies for owners and operators.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Johnson

Ultimately the goal of Justice O'Connor's recommendations from the Walkerton inquiry was "to ensure that Ontario's drinking water system deliver water with a level of risk so negligible that a reasonable person would feel safe drinking the water" (O'Connor, 2002a, 5). Following the implementation of Justice O'Connor's recommendations, concerns were raised regarding the management of small drinking water systems using the same stringent rules that were used for municipally-run water systems. Recommendations have focused on the need for risk assessment when managing the threats to small drinking water systems; however no such system has yet been developed in Ontario. A risk-based approach has been developed that would ensure drinking water protection activities are targeted to items that posed the greatest risk to water systems, resulting in more efficient protection efforts. The creation of such a risk-based program can be used to accurately identify significant threats to a water system and result in the effective management of health threats from small drinking water systems.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Johnson

Ultimately the goal of Justice O'Connor's recommendations from the Walkerton inquiry was "to ensure that Ontario's drinking water system deliver water with a level of risk so negligible that a reasonable person would feel safe drinking the water" (O'Connor, 2002a, 5). Following the implementation of Justice O'Connor's recommendations, concerns were raised regarding the management of small drinking water systems using the same stringent rules that were used for municipally-run water systems. Recommendations have focused on the need for risk assessment when managing the threats to small drinking water systems; however no such system has yet been developed in Ontario. A risk-based approach has been developed that would ensure drinking water protection activities are targeted to items that posed the greatest risk to water systems, resulting in more efficient protection efforts. The creation of such a risk-based program can be used to accurately identify significant threats to a water system and result in the effective management of health threats from small drinking water systems.


Author(s):  
Francesca Serio ◽  
Lucia Martella ◽  
Giovanni Imbriani ◽  
Adele Idolo ◽  
Francesco Bagordo ◽  
...  

Background: The quality of water for human consumption is an objective of fundamental importance for the defense of public health. Since the management of networks involves many problems of control and efficiency of distribution, the Water Safety Plan (WSP) was introduced to address these growing problems. Methods: WSP was applied to three companies in which the water resource assumes central importance: five water kiosks, a third-range vegetable processing company, and a residence and care institution. In drafting the plan, the terms and procedures designed and tested for the management of urban distribution systems were applied to safeguard the resource over time. Results: The case studies demonstrated the reliability of the application of the model even to small drinking-water systems, even though it involved a greater effort in analyzing the incoming water, the local intended use, and the possibilities for managing the containment of the dangers to which it is exposed. This approach demonstrates concrete effectiveness in identifying and mitigating the dangers of altering the quality of water. Conclusions: Thanks to the WSP applied to small drinking-water systems, we can move from management that is focused mainly on verifying the conformity of the finished product to the creation of a global risk assessment and management system that covers the entire water supply chain.


Water Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 908-924
Author(s):  
Kaycie Lane ◽  
Graham Gagnon

Abstract Drinking water advisories (DWAs) are used as a tool for identifying water safety concerns in many jurisdictions. Evidence from previous research demonstrates a lack of improvement in water system operations over time, with an increase in the total number of DWAs in place. DWAs are predominantly issued due to operational concerns within a water system, implying a lack of proactive management measures for preventable issues. Therefore, DWAs represent a chronic issue for many water systems, particularly those lacking resources to implement operational improvements. This study explores DWA characteristics in Atlantic Canada, including frequency and duration, focusing on municipal and private water systems. Seasonality was identified as a trend in DWA issuance in Nova Scotia, and reasons for DWA issuance are largely unchanged over time. Neither of these identified concerns has led to a change in DWA reporting or issuance procedures. Additionally, this study identifies a lack of a common reporting format, leading to the proposal of a template of minimum characteristics for future DWA reporting. Overall, this study highlights deficiencies in the DWA issuance process as a water safety measure and suggests alternative methods for risk management in water systems to alleviate the persistence and prevalence of DWAs in Canada.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 1855-1868
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Gora ◽  
Tim Anaviapik Soucie ◽  
Nicole E. McCormick ◽  
C. Carolina Ontiveros ◽  
Vincent L'Hérault ◽  
...  

Drinking water samples were collected from the water source, water delivery truck, domestic water storage tanks, and at the point of use in a decentralized drinking water system in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, a predominantly Inuit community in Canada's Arctic region.


2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
MN Amin ◽  
CK Paul ◽  
A Parvez ◽  
MAI Chowdhury

Study results showed that deep tube well and shallow tube well water were used for drinking purposes by 31.43% and 24.29% respondents respectively where as minority of the respondents use other sources. Perception about the safe drinking water for the respondents was found mostly 63% among all the respondents followed by moderately safe 21%. About 54.29% respondents were found to be fully satisfied about their drinking water followed by moderately satisfied 30%. Among all the beneficiaries, 82.86% beneficiaries indicated communication materials like booklet, leaflet, poster, manuals, etc were available. This investigation found 83.33% rain water harvesting plant was in high risk where as, 66.67% deep tube well water source was in high risk category. The chances of contamination were high in the period of covering the water vessels during storage of water was 64.71%. About 89% respondents among all the official respondents did not receive the water safety plans training. About 66.67% officials responded that no sanitary inspection was done. Most of the respondents (78.57% beneficiaries and 76.19% organizational personnel) had high perception about the selected benefits of water safety plans. Among all the officials and beneficiaries that 75.71% beneficiary and 66.67% organizational personnel had high perception in selected limitations to implement the water safety plans. Finally 95.24% organizational personnel and 81.43% beneficiaries had high perception about the selected necessities to successful implementation of water safety plans in Bangladesh.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v4i2.10136J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 4(2): 61-71, 2011  


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (06) ◽  
pp. 812-817
Author(s):  
Murat Kutlu ◽  
Çağrı Ergin ◽  
Aynur Karadenizli ◽  
Selda Sayın Kutlu

Introduction: Tularemia has reemerged and spread throughout Turkey, and the number of cases has increased. In this study, we report on a waterborne outbreak of tularemia in the spring of 2013 in a region which was previously disease-free, and we investigated the reasons for the outbreak. Methodology: The index case, a 17-year-old male, was diagnosed with oropharyngeal tularemia. An outbreak investigation was initiated after receiving information from other patients with similar symptoms from the same village along with Balkıca, Tavas, and Denizli. An epidemiological and environmental investigation was conducted. Tonsil swab specimens/lymph node aspirates collected from patients, and water samples collected from unchlorinated drinking water sources, were cultured. Additionally, a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on these samples. Serum samples from patients were analyzed for antibody response. Results: A total of 7 patients were found in this outbreak investigation. The attack rate was found to be 1% among the people of the village and 25% among patients’ family members. The drinking-water system was contaminated with F. tularensis during this outbreak. Conclusions: Lack of appropriate water infrastructure and sanitation was the primary reason for this tularemia outbreak in Turkey. Improving the water source infrastructure and sanitation should be the primary approach to preventing tularemia outbreaks.


2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 92-96
Author(s):  
Wendy Pons ◽  
Andria Jones-Bitton ◽  
Steven Lam ◽  
Scott A. McEwen ◽  
Katarina Pintar ◽  
...  

Public health inspectors (PHIs) play an important role in enforcing the regulation and monitoring of approximately 9000 small noncommunity drinking water systems across Ontario. These small drinking water systems (SDWS) are diverse and face unique challenges. The purpose of this research was to explore PHIs’ insights and needs related to these SDWS in Ontario, Canada, to inform future policy and training initiatives to support safe drinking water. Data were collected through teleconference-conducted focus groups. Transcripts were analyzed and three major themes were found: the operator–PHI relationship, PHI training and information needs, and operational challenges. Overall, participants reported that they felt confident in their ability to inspect SDWSs. Main concerns to water safety were the technical ability of the water operator to manage their water supply and the impact of having a long time period between inspections of water systems. Future research should explore the cost-benefit of increasing inspection frequency in SDWSs and a variety of training and education initiatives for PHIs and operators of SDWSs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorrit Drinhaus ◽  
Alexander Harstrick ◽  
Bastian Breustedt

AbstractFor monitoring radioactive contamination of water systems due to nuclear accidents or terrorist attacks, there is need of an in situ online measurement to assess alpha-, beta- and gamma-emitting radionuclide contaminants quickly and accurately. However, there is no well-established online monitoring system for permanent surveillance of drinking water systems. Therefore, a real-time measurement system was developed based on the readout of plastic scintillator sheets by a photomultiplier. Direct contact between scintillator and streaming water allows for the detection of both long- and short-ranged particles. Using a passive cooling system, detection limits of 141 Bq/L for $$^{241}$$ 241 Am, 20 Bq/L for $$^{60}$$ 60 Co and 17 Bq/L for $$^{137}$$ 137 Cs were achieved with measurements of 60 s counting time. The system has been designed to be operated safely without deep knowledge of radiation measurement technology. The detector can be connected as a bypass to a water system and be operated in a continuous online survey mode, making it applicable as an early warning system.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 138-146
Author(s):  
Akbar Eslami ◽  
Mohtasham Ghafari ◽  
Valiallah Sohbatloo ◽  
Farzane Fanaei ◽  
◽  
...  

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