scholarly journals Application of risk assessment tools to small drinking water systems in British Columbia

2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 332-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Michael Summerscales ◽  
Edward A. McBean
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water System ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Source Distribution ◽  
Treatment Barrier ◽  
Risk Assessment Tools ◽  
Drinking Water Systems

A number of risk assessment tools have been developed for drinking water systems, but there is a lack of published independent evaluation of how well the tools incorporate the multiple barrier approach to drinking water safety. Selected risk assessment tools were evaluated by applying the tools to five small drinking water systems serving residential developments in British Columbia. The selected risk assessment tools generally identified hazards and vulnerabilities in the source, distribution, storage and monitoring barriers of the water systems. The risk assessment tools had varying levels of success identifying vulnerabilities in the treatment barrier. In some cases, the existing tools consider the presence or absence of a water system barrier, such as a disinfection process or a monitoring procedure, but do not consider how effective or appropriate that barrier is. A common shortcoming of the risk assessment tools is the failure to identify the need for multiple treatment processes capable of removing or inactivating pathogens, which is particularly important for surface water supplies. In addition to not incorporating the multiple barrier approach into the evaluation of the treatment barrier, none of the risk assessment tools successfully reflected the interconnected nature of the water system barriers.

Evaluation of Risk Assessment Tools to Predict Canadian Waterborne Disease Outbreaks

2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ian Michael Summerscales ◽  
Edward A. McBean
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Waterborne Disease ◽  
Drinking Water Contamination ◽  
Risk Assessment Tools

Abstract A number of risk assessment tools and guidance documents have been developed by regulatory and nongovernmental bodies to enable risk assessment of drinking water systems. To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of available risk assessment tools, three of the existing risk assessment tools were applied to waterborne disease outbreaks in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, and Walkerton, Ontario, to determine whether the risk assessment tools would have indicated that the water systems were at risk of failure. Both of these outbreaks are sufficiently well documented to allow testing of the risk assessment tools. Both of the outbreaks occurred partly due to vulnerabilities that prevented the respective water systems from having effective multiple barriers to drinking water contamination. The risk assessment tools generally identified the hazards that resulted in contamination of the source water. However, the different tools had different levels of success in identifying vulnerabilities in the downstream barriers such as treatment processes and water quality monitoring activities. None of the risk assessment tools successfully incorporated the interdependent nature of the multiple barriers of drinking water safety.

scholarly journals Managing threats to small drinking water systems in Ontario : a risk based approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water System ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Water Protection ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Reasonable Person ◽  
Drinking Water System ◽  
Efficient Protection ◽  
Drinking Water Systems

Ultimately the goal of Justice O'Connor's recommendations from the Walkerton inquiry was "to ensure that Ontario's drinking water system deliver water with a level of risk so negligible that a reasonable person would feel safe drinking the water" (O'Connor, 2002a, 5). Following the implementation of Justice O'Connor's recommendations, concerns were raised regarding the management of small drinking water systems using the same stringent rules that were used for municipally-run water systems. Recommendations have focused on the need for risk assessment when managing the threats to small drinking water systems; however no such system has yet been developed in Ontario. A risk-based approach has been developed that would ensure drinking water protection activities are targeted to items that posed the greatest risk to water systems, resulting in more efficient protection efforts. The creation of such a risk-based program can be used to accurately identify significant threats to a water system and result in the effective management of health threats from small drinking water systems.

scholarly journals Managing threats to small drinking water systems in Ontario : a risk based approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water System ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Water Protection ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Reasonable Person ◽  
Drinking Water System ◽  
Efficient Protection ◽  
Drinking Water Systems

Ultimately the goal of Justice O'Connor's recommendations from the Walkerton inquiry was "to ensure that Ontario's drinking water system deliver water with a level of risk so negligible that a reasonable person would feel safe drinking the water" (O'Connor, 2002a, 5). Following the implementation of Justice O'Connor's recommendations, concerns were raised regarding the management of small drinking water systems using the same stringent rules that were used for municipally-run water systems. Recommendations have focused on the need for risk assessment when managing the threats to small drinking water systems; however no such system has yet been developed in Ontario. A risk-based approach has been developed that would ensure drinking water protection activities are targeted to items that posed the greatest risk to water systems, resulting in more efficient protection efforts. The creation of such a risk-based program can be used to accurately identify significant threats to a water system and result in the effective management of health threats from small drinking water systems.

scholarly journals Towards a Sustainable Small Non-Community Drinking Water System in Ontario: Owners’ Risk Awareness and Perceptions to Water Safety

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Fatih Sekercioglu ◽  
Jerry White ◽  
Dan Shrubsole ◽  
Jamie Baxter
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water System ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Risk Awareness ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Drinking Water System ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Drinking Water Systems

In Ontario, small non-community drinking water systems are defined as systems that make drinking water available to the public and are not connected to a community drinking water system. This study, using qualitative research approach, examines the risk awareness and perceptions of small non-community drinking water system owners in providing safe drinking water to their clients and protecting their water source. Our study yields the need for developing a sustainable operation model for small non-community drinking water systems. The study results provide recommendations to the regulatory agency for effective and efficient administration of the program such as offering customized and affordable training opportunities and developing effective communication strategies for owners and operators.

scholarly journals Incorporation of the Multiple Barrier Approach in drinking water risk assessment tools

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Michael Summerscales ◽  
Edward A. McBean
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Contamination ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Drinking Water Contamination ◽  
Drinking Water Safety ◽  
Risk Assessment Tools ◽  
Developed Nations

A number of existing risk assessment tools make reference to, or incorporate, a Multiple Barrier Approach to drinking water safety. Three waterborne disease outbreaks that occurred in developed nations were used as case studies to test a selected set of risk assessment tools. The outbreaks were used to determine how well the risk assessment tools identify hazards and vulnerabilities associated with different barriers to drinking water contamination.

scholarly journals An autonomous real-time detector system for radionuclide monitoring in drinking water systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorrit Drinhaus ◽  
Alexander Harstrick ◽  
Bastian Breustedt
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Water System ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Measurement Technology ◽  
Real Time Measurement ◽  
Drinking Water Systems

AbstractFor monitoring radioactive contamination of water systems due to nuclear accidents or terrorist attacks, there is need of an in situ online measurement to assess alpha-, beta- and gamma-emitting radionuclide contaminants quickly and accurately. However, there is no well-established online monitoring system for permanent surveillance of drinking water systems. Therefore, a real-time measurement system was developed based on the readout of plastic scintillator sheets by a photomultiplier. Direct contact between scintillator and streaming water allows for the detection of both long- and short-ranged particles. Using a passive cooling system, detection limits of 141 Bq/L for $$^{241}$$ 241 Am, 20 Bq/L for $$^{60}$$ 60 Co and 17 Bq/L for $$^{137}$$ 137 Cs were achieved with measurements of 60 s counting time. The system has been designed to be operated safely without deep knowledge of radiation measurement technology. The detector can be connected as a bypass to a water system and be operated in a continuous online survey mode, making it applicable as an early warning system.

scholarly journals Insights and Opportunities: Challenges of Canadian First Nations Drinking Water Operators

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather M Murphy ◽  
Elliott Corston-Pine ◽  
Yvonne Post ◽  
Edward A McBean
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Water System ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Operator Training ◽  
Operation And Maintenance ◽  
Hours Of Work

Providing safe drinking water continues to be a challenge in Canadian First Nations communities. In 2011, in Ontario and British Columbia, only 45 percent and 51 percent of 143 and 160 First Nations had water systems with a fully trained certified operator, respectively. The objective of this research was to investigate the issues of operator training, retention, and job satisfaction through semi-structured interviews and surveys of water system operators in Ontario and British Columbia. Operators reported the lack of funding for operation and maintenance, and a lack of support from band council as challenges in performing their jobs. Of those who reported being unsatisfied with their position, wages, hours of work, and lack of funding or support were cited as primary reasons.

Biofilm formation on materials commonly used in household drinking water systems

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Morvay ◽  
M. Decun ◽  
M. Scurtu ◽  
C. Sala ◽  
A. Morar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Water System ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Biofilm Thickness ◽  
Drinking Water Systems

Biofilms are surface-associated bacterial communities that predominate in natural and pathogenic ecosystems. Their formation in drinking water systems creates potential risks for consumers’ health. Herein we tested biofilm formation on materials commonly used for indoor household drinking water systems (copper, PVC and stainless steel) simulating an average family water usage. Water parameters were determined by standardized methods while biofilm formation was assessed by epifluorescent and laser scanning confocal microscopy, for determining the numbers of attached cells, biofilm thickness, colony size and average colony surface. Results showed a very fast colonization on all materials used, of log 6–7 cm−2 cells disposed on a single layer on copper and PVC. On stainless steel, beginning on the 24th experimental day, there were observed multiple layers of cells and a rapid increase of biofilm thickness. The lowest overall number of attached cells was found on copper. Microorganism colonization and biofilm formation is possible and quite fast on an indoor water system connected to a chlorinated water network. From the tested materials, the greatest risk to consumer health comes from biofilm formation on stainless steel parts which are used in the very large majority of residences.

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