EMERGENCY: Alberta has declared a Public Health Emergency to protect the health care system from COVID-19. Indoor social gatherings are the top source of transmission. All indoor social gatherings have now been banned. This ban will be enforced with $1,000 fines. Learn more
COVID-19 response: Drinking water reporting requirements
Ministerial Order 17/2020 outlines current reporting requirements for drinking water sector operators.
For more information about Alberta’s COVID-19 response, visit COVID-19 info for Albertans.
Overview
The Government of Canada is changing the federal guidelines for acceptable levels of lead and manganese in drinking water. This will lead to subsequent changes in Alberta’s provincial drinking water guidelines.
For details, see Lead and manganese in drinking water (PDF, 441 KB).
Municipal drinking water systems are regulated by Alberta Environment and Parks under the following legislation:
- Activities Designation Regulation
- Approvals and Registrations Procedure Regulation
- Code of Practice for a Waterworks System Consisting Solely of a Water Distribution System
- Code of Practice for Waterworks Systems Using High Quality Groundwater
- Drinking Water Information Letters
Information Letters are used by the Regional Integration Branch, Operations Division, to formally communicate with regional staff in the department and other external stakeholders on matters relating to regulatory expectations or guidance on specific issues relating to drinking water quality that are not currently captured in the current version of the Standards and Guidelines for Municipal Waterworks, Wastewater and Storm Drainage Systems. - Environmental Appeal Board Regulation
- Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act
- Potable Water Regulation
Standards and guidelines
Alberta Environment and Parks is responsible for the drinking water and wastewater programs for large public systems in Alberta. The department considers the establishment of standards and guidelines for municipal waterworks, wastewater and storm drainage facilities an integral part of our regulatory program directed at ensuring public health and environmental protection.
The 2006 version of the Standards and Guidelines for Municipal Waterworks, Wastewater and Storm Drainage Systems has now been decoupled into 5 functionally-associated sections. Each 'Part' is available for download or for purchase through Alberta Queen's Printer in a coil-bound, three-hole punched format.
To view the documents, see Standards and Guidelines for Municipal Waterworks, Wastewater and Storm Drainage Systems.