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Information on Certificates of Approval Fall 2007 Workshop Summary
- Listen to a summary presentation of the Fall 2007 Owner and Operating Authority Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program Workshops. While this audio presentation is only available in English, a written copy of the presentation will be available in French shortly.
Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program The Ontario Government is implementing the Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program, which was developed as a result of several recommendations by Justice O'Connor in the Part II Report of the Walkerton Inquiry. Justice O’Connor recommended a new approvals framework for municipal drinking water systems, which would require owners to obtain a licence to operate their systems as well as incorporate the concept of quality management into their operations. The Licensing Program is being implemented under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, which establishes requirements for owners and operating authorities of municipal residential drinking water systems as defined under O. Reg. 170/03. A municipal drinking water licence is an approval that will be issued by the Ministry of the Environment to owners for the operation of their systems (the licence and drinking water works permit will replace the certificates of approval). A licence will be issued once the owner has the following in place for its system: 1. Drinking Water Works Permit (DWWP)
- A permit to establish or alter a municipal residential drinking water system (the DWWP and licence will replace the certificates of approval).
2. Operational Plan
- A document based on the requirements of the Drinking Water Quality Management Standard (DWQMS). The plan will document the owner and operating authority’s quality management system (QMS).
3. Accredited Operating Authority
- The quality management system, which includes the operational plan, must pass a third-party audit before the operating authority can be accredited.
4. Financial Plans
- As required under the Financial Plans Regulation (O. Reg. 453/07).
5. Permit to Take Water
- As required by the Ontario Water Resources Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O. 40.
Owners are required to submit an operational plan and applications for a licence and a DWWP to the Ministry of the Environment on or by the date prescribed under the Licensing of Municipal Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O. Reg. 188/07). Dates for these submissions are being phased in over an 18-month period starting January 1, 2009. Large municipalities are required to submit their information in the first two months, followed by medium and then small municipalities. Until a licence and DWWP are issued, owners and operating authorities are required to continue operating their drinking water system in accordance with the terms and conditions in their current certificates of approval. Guides for applying for a licence and a DWWP are currently under development. Information on the minimum requirements relating to the submission of operational plans can be found in the Director’s Direction (below). When an owner of a municipal residential drinking water system submits the operational plan to the ministry, the operating authority will have to submit the operational plan to the third-party accreditation body. The accreditation body will accredit the operating authority based on a successful audit. Additional information on the accreditation process can be found in the Accreditation Protocol (below). To assist municipalities in meeting the requirements of the Licensing Program, the Ministry of the Environment has developed a number of tools including guidance materials, and training & outreach. Additional information on the Licensing Program can be found in the documents at the bottom of this page and in the following links: Walkerton Clean Water Centre Training
- Training courses related to the Licensing Program are being offered through the Walkerton Clean Water Centre. Please visit the Centre’s website for more information.
Environmental Registry E-Laws Contact Information
If you have any questions about the Licensing Program please contact the ministry at 1-877-955-5455 (Toronto area 416-314-1651) or mdwlp@ontario.ca. If you would like to contact one of the pilot municipalities that have developed operational plans, implemented quality management and passed a pilot audit, please contact the ministry and we will provide you with the appropriate contact information. Disclaimer
Remember, this is only a summary. To be clear about your specific legal requirements, you should refer to the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, and the regulations and other instruments made under that Act. For more information, please contact the ministry’s Public Information Centre at 1-800-565-4923.
Last Modified: December 5, 2008
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