Should Alberta Update Its Drinking Water Rules for Small Systems?
Official title: Potable water regulation updates engagement
Why This Matters
Get your drinking water from a small private system? This affects you directly. The rules determine what testing is required and what's considered safe. If you're in a rural area or small community not served by a municipal system, these standards shape your water quality.
What Could Change
New 'Standards for Micro Waterworks Systems' are now in effect as of June 2022. Small waterworks face size-appropriate regulations instead of one-size-fits-all rules. Fluoride limits for groundwater systems now align with Health Canada guidelines. A code of practice was developed to clarify operational requirements.
Key Issues
- What regulations are appropriate for very small waterworks systems?
- Should Alberta align its fluoride limits with Health Canada guidelines?
- What implementation timeline is reasonable for affected systems?
How to Participate
- This consultation is now closed. Operators of very small waterworks systems provided feedback through an online survey from January 11 to February 11, 2022.
- Watch the recorded webinar on the proposed Standards for Micro Waterworks Systems to understand what was proposed.
What Happened
Feedback collected informed the updated Potable Water Regulation and new Standards for Micro Waterworks Systems, which came into effect in June 2022. The standards support very small systems in providing high quality potable water with size-appropriate regulations. Feedback on fluoride implementation helped ensure reasonable timelines for affected systems.