Transcript Remote Community Electrical Systems

Drinking Water Advisory
Presentation on March 10, 2010
Niagara Falls, Ontario
1
INAC Boil Water Advisory (BWA) Activities
•
In March 2009 INAC supported OFNTSC with BWA Case Study
Meetings.
•
INAC circulates Health Canada WaterTrax report to staff weekly,
who may be travelling to FN communities. Information shared with
officers working with communities in capital and maintenance.
•
Health Canada and INAC have established a DWA working group,
to improve communications and develop action plans for First
Nations on a Boil Water Advisory.
•
INAC continues to provide funding under First Nations Water &
Wastewater Action Plan to support operator training, CRTP,
enhanced O&M funding for water & wastewater systems, capital
infrastructure and the 24/7 Technical Support and First Response
services.
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Dinking Water Advisory Types
Type I
Type II
Type III
Type IV
Type V
= Boil Water
= Compromised Immunity
= Do Not Consume
= Conserve
= Do not use
Drinking Water Advisory Reasons
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
Significant Deterioration in source water quality
Equipment malfunction during treatment or distribution
Inadequate disinfection or disinfectant residuals
Unacceptable Microbiological quality
Unacceptable Turbidities or particle counts
Operation of system would compromise public health
Epidemiological evidence indicates the drinking water is or may be
responsible for an outbreak of illness
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Ontario Region BWA Stats (as of Feb.12, 2010)
• 29 of 123 First Nation communities are on a BWA
• 54 out of 189 Community Water System (CWS)
are on a BWA (some FNs have more than one system)
• All 54 BWA are Type I advisory (boil water before
consumption)
• Advisory Reasons 1 through 6 for BWAs
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High Priority Systems
•
•
In 2006, of the 21 high priority water systems identified nationally, Ontario
Region had 8 First Nation communities.
To date, five (5) of the high priority systems have been addressed and work
continues on remaining three (3) high priority systems.
Risk Assessments
•
•
14 First Nations identified as high risk (July 2010), a reduction from 32 high
risk communities in 2006.
Risk assessments are done annually, with fluctuations throughout the year.
Risk Level Factors
•
•
•
•
•
the source of water
the design of the plant
the operations and maintenance of plant
reporting compliance
certification of plant operator
5
Categories/Indicators for BWAs
From BWA Case Study Meetings:
1)
2)
3)
4)
General operations of the facility
Lack of operator training
A non-compliant facility
Lack of water quality verification
From INAC review:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
Watertrax Update Required
Testing as per HC Protocol
Easy Fix (chlorine/pumps) etc.
Operational problems
Distribution
Major Upgrades or New Plant
Systems/Equipment
Other
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Previous Recommendations for Removing BWA
From original DWA working group:
•
Put in place a longer term dedicated BWA team with expertise in WTP
design/operation and a budget to allow travel into communities under a BWA. INAC
subsequently implemented a 24/7 Technical Support and First Response
emergency hot line.
•
Establish HUBs at the Tribal Council level, specifically in the North where other HUB
type operations are not available. The HUB would provide support to the WTP
operators and oversee the operation of the WTPs. SWOP was the answer on a
short term basis to the HUB proposals and to address the Minister’s commitment.
•
Undertake regular inspection of WTPs by trained personnel.
•
Provide additional funding for O&M (conditions apply). An O&M model was
developed that provides over $9 million in additional O&M to FN communities.
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Provide contingency/emergency funding to Tribal Councils to allow intervention prior
to or shortly after a BWA is issued. (not implemented, but in many ways included
in item 1.)
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General Comments on Issues Leading to BWAs
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Recognizing that operator training is a long term objective we are making progress in this area
however with some set-backs as trained operators leave to seek higher paying jobs or are let
go by Chief and Council.
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The newer operators need to be screened to ensure they have the abilities and education.
Long serving operators need to be assessed that they are qualified and capable of operating
the FN’s WTP. Resent changes to MOE certification requirements.
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Inadequate water testing, record keeping and reporting.
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WTPs that require significant upgrading is also a long term undertaking, hence these types of
BWAs will not be reduced quickly. O&M plan to be linked with operator training plan. Look at
interim solutions.
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From a funding perspective it’s not necessarily a money issue as there have been significant
increases in O&M, such as SWOP, 24/7, CRTP & Training.
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Chief and Council support and leadership is absolutely necessary and water issues must
remain a high priority.
•
Monitoring of funds is required to ensure they stay in with WTP budget, consider changes to
flexible transfer payments.
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