About the guide

This document sets out testing methods that may be used for the conduct of tests of Ontario drinking water. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, only licensed laboratories located in Ontario and eligible out-of-province laboratories may conduct tests on samples of drinking water.

Purpose

This document lists analytical methods that are suitable for use by a licensed laboratory to test for all the regulated parameters in Ontario Regulation 169/03.

These testing methods are set out in the “Protocol of Accepted Drinking Water Testing Methods,” a requirement under O. Reg. 248/03, Drinking Water Testing Services Regulation, [Section 11. (1)(a)].

The primary target group of this document is drinking water stakeholders, particularly licensed laboratories performing drinking water testing.

Outcomes

This protocol will assist in meeting regulatory obligations. Licensed laboratories will benefit by the increased number of options for accepted analytical methods for drinking water testing.