If your home or workplace is in a rural area, chances are your water supply comes from a well. If you haven't already, get acquainted with your well. It's the first step in doing everything you can to protect the quality of your water supply and the groundwater we all share.

• What is a Small Drinking Water System?
• What has changed?
• What do I need to do in Huron County? forms
• Grants are Available to Help

What is a Small Drinking Water System?

Does your business or premises in Huron County make drinking water available to the public and you do not get your drinking water from a municipal water system? You may be an owner or operator of a small drinking water system. If you are not sure whether your system is affected, call the Huron County Health Unit.

There are five categories of small drinking water systems.

1. Large municipal non-residential drinking water systems that serve such facilities as municipally-owned airports and industrial parks, and large sports and recreation facilities.

2. Small municipal non-residential drinking water systems that serve such facilities as small community centres, libraries, and sports and recreation facilities.
3. Non-municipal seasonal residential drinking water systems that serve such facilities as private cottages on communal drinking water systems.
4. Large non-municipal non-residential drinking water systems that serve such facilities as large motels and resorts.
5. Small non-municipal non-residential drinking water systems that serve such facilities as motels, restaurants, gas stations, churches, and bed and breakfasts.

Owners and operators of small drinking water systems are responsible for keeping the drinking water safe. They must also meet their regulatory requirements, including routine water sampling.

What has changed?

On December 1, 2008 the oversight of small drinking water systems in Ontario moved from the Ministry of the Environment to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. There are two new regulations that govern small drinking water systems under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

What do I need to do in Huron County? forms

A complete information kit is available from the health unit. Small drinking water system operators must now:

Complete the Small Drinking Water System Identification form and submit it to the Huron County Health Unit
Complete the Laboratory Services Notification (LSN) form and submit it to the health unit
Have a site-specific risk assessment done by a Public Health Inspector.
Test results are to be reported on the Notice of Adverse Test Results and Issue Resolution form

Please note that the above forms are Microsoft Word Documents. To view them please download Microsoft Word Viewer.

Once the assessment is done, a directive will be issued to the owner or operator of the system. The directive will be specific to that drinking water system. A directive could include specific sampling, testing, treatment, training, signage posting, or other requirements.

Grants are Available to Help

The Huron County Clean Water Project provides financial and technical assistance to county residents to improve and protect water quality in Huron County.

The project is funded by the County of Huron and delivered by the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley Conservation Authorities. Funding assistance covers up to 50% of the costs of eligible projects and can be combined with other cost-share programs.