Drinking water – Overview

Overview

Using a source-to-tap, multi-barrier approach, this program regulates the systems that supply water to approximately 3 million Albertans. The remaining 500,000 Albertans draw their water from systems not covered by Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) legislation including:

• farms
• First Nations reserves
• communal systems
• some homes

In these cases, drinking water is monitored by Regional Health Authorities and Alberta Health, with the exception of First Nations, who come under federal jurisdiction.

Alberta's program has 5 main components:

• protection
• legislation
• drinking water systems
• knowledge and awareness
• performance assurance

For more information, see Alberta Environment and Parks' Drinking Water Program.

Operator Consortium Reports

• Vermilion River
• Lac Ste Anne and Parkland Counties
• Counties of Two Hills and Minburn

Legislation

Municipal water systems, their operator certification, water source protection and compliance are covered under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and other drinking water legislation.

Protection

Preventative measures and emergency responses reduce risk to water consumers and liability to the owners of waterworks systems. These measures include:

• source water protection
• water and wastewater operator certification
• lab data quality assurance

Drinking water systems

By law in Alberta, these systems must be constructed to government's design standards and operated according to provincial facility approvals. Key components are the drinking water facility assessments and funding programs for municipal and regional systems.

• Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership
• Facility Assessments
• Regional Systems Initiative and Water Strategy Initiative (AMWWP) – Transportation

Performance assurance

Approvals, compliance and enforcement activities ensure that waterworks system owner(s)/operator(s) meet the necessary standards and are committed to continuous improvement.

• Compliance Assurance
• Drinking Water and Wastewater Facility Approvals
• Performance assurance