| #Q001 | monitoring | health | recommended | Total Microcystins Measurement | recreational water | When measuring microcystins, it is important to measure total microcystins. This includes microcystins that are both dissolved in the water (extracellular) and bound within the cyanobacterial cells (intracellular). In addition, although the guideline value is based on the toxicity assessment of microcystin-LR (MC-LR), all measurable microcystin variants, not just MC-LR, should be included in the analysis. | When conducting analysis for microcystins | high |
| #Q002 | administrative | health | recommended | Cyanobacteria Management Plan | recreational water | The assessment of risk and the resultant decision on management of cyanobacteria and their toxins (including bloom prevention strategies) should be included as part of a management plan for the recreational area. | | high |
| #Q003 | monitoring | health | recommended | Monitoring Modified Indicator Values | recreational water | If values are modified, authorities should continue to monitor the maximum ratio of the parameter to microcystins to ensure that the modified values remain applicable. | If site-specific indicator guideline values are modified based on the maximum ratio of microcystins to cyanobacteria biomass indicators. | high |
| #Q004 | administrative | health | recommended | Identification of Monitored Areas | recreational water | In Canada, there is an abundance of rivers and lakes that are used for recreational activities, and monitoring them all for cyanobacterial blooms is not feasible or recommended. Instead, responsible authorities should identify the areas that may need a management plan in place. | | high |
| #Q005 | reporting | health | recommended | Public Reporting of Blooms | recreational water | As many recreational waterbodies in Canada will fall into the category of lower risk, the general public should be encouraged to report potential cyanobacteria issues to the responsible authority identified by the jurisdiction or to their local public health unit. | Particularly for recreational areas not selected for routine monitoring. | high |
| #Q006 | monitoring | health | recommended | Routine Monitoring for High-Risk Areas | recreational water | Recreational areas that are heavily used and that are suspected or are known to be susceptible to blooms should be routinely monitored as described in their monitoring plan (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly) and have an action plan in place for what measures to take in the event of a toxic bloom. | Applies to heavily used recreational areas suspected or known to be susceptible to blooms. | high |
| #Q007 | monitoring | operational | recommended | Validation of Alternative Monitoring Methods | recreational water | Other measures, such as molecular approaches or using satellite imagery, may also be included in a monitoring plan, although these methods should first be validated for the site. | When employing molecular approaches or satellite imagery. | high |
| #Q008 | monitoring | health | recommended | Confirmation of Cyanobacteria during Chlorophyll-a Monitoring | recreational water | As chlorophyll-a is not specific to cyanobacteria, it is also important to confirm that blooms are cyanobacteria when using this indicator as part of a monitoring approach. | When using total chlorophyll a as an indicator. | high |
| #Q009 | monitoring | health | recommended | Sampling During and After Bloom Collapse | recreational water | Sampling should be done during and after the collapse of the bloom in accordance with the recreational water management plan. | During and following the collapse of a cyanobacteria bloom. | high |
| #Q010 | corrective_action | health | recommended | Public Advisories for Benthic Mats | recreational water | Where mats are accessible, individuals should be advised to avoid these areas, including keeping pets away from the impacted areas. | When benthic cyanobacteria mats are present and accessible in shallow areas or stranded on shores. | high |
| #Q011 | corrective_action | health | recommended | Swimming and Contact Advisories for Visible Blooms | recreational water | In general, due to the difficulty in accurately characterizing the concentrations of toxins in a bloom, primary contact with recreational waters that contain visible blooms should be avoided, and a swimming/contact advisory should be issued as a precaution. | When visible planktonic blooms or accumulations are present. | high |
| #Q012 | administrative | health | recommended | Duration of Swimming Advisories | recreational water | Swimming/contact advisories should remain in place until the potential health risk associated with the impacted area has been determined to be acceptable for recreational activities. | Following the issuance of a swimming/contact advisory. | high |
| #Q013 | administrative | health | recommended | Conditions to Remove Swimming Advisories | recreational water | The conditions required to remove the swimming/contact advisory should be determined by the responsible authority based on the cyanobacteria management plan in place for the recreational area, or, in the absence of a recreational monitoring plan, based on site-specific information from the recreational area (e.g., dilution, historical occurrence of blooms). | When deciding to lift an active swimming/contact advisory. | high |
| #Q014 | administrative | health | recommended | Advisory Dissipation Waiting Period | recreational water | In the absence of toxin testing, the swimming/contact advisory should remain in place long enough after the bloom has dissipated to allow any toxin present to be diluted or degraded. | If toxin testing is not performed following the collapse of a bloom. | high |
| #Q015 | reporting | health | recommended | Notification Content Requirements | recreational water | Public notifications related to cyanobacteria blooms should be simple and clear. The notification should include (US EPA, 2021): * the key message – closure or warning being issued or lifted * list of approved activities and unsafe activities * reason for the notification, e.g. high levels of cyanobacteria or cyanotoxins * location of the recreational area affected by the notification * potential consequences of contact with the affected area * actions being taken by the beach managers to monitor the bloom * contact information for individuals wanting additional information | When issuing public notifications related to cyanobacteria blooms. | high |
| #Q016 | reporting | health | recommended | Educational Materials Provision | recreational water | Educational materials outlining steps the public may take to reduce their personal risk in the event of a bloom should be provided. Advice may include: * avoid areas that contain visible scums or that have a greenish/bluish tinge to the water; * if accidental contact with cyanobacterial material occurs, shower or wash themselves, as well as any items that may have come into contact with the cyanobacterial material, as soon as is practical upon exiting the water; * if experiencing adverse health effects from recreational water activity, consult a medical professional and, if necessary, alert the appropriate local public health authorities; * ensure pets do not swim in, or drink from, areas where the water has taken on an abnormal discolouration consistent with that of a bloom, or where accumulations of cyanobacterial material, including benthic mats, are visible. | When providing public notifications for a bloom event. | high |
| #Q017 | operational | health | recommended | Precautionary Bloom Treatment | recreational water | As a result, any bloom encountered should be treated as potentially toxic. | Due to the lack of noticeable effects on local animal populations. | high |
| #Q018 | prohibition | health | recommended | Prohibition of Aerosol Generating Activities | recreational water | As a precaution, activities that are known to generate significant amounts of aerosols (e.g. powerboating) and activities where accidental immersion risk is high (e.g. water skiing/tubing) should be avoided in areas containing visible cyanobacteria blooms. | In areas containing visible cyanobacteria blooms. | high |
| #Q019 | operational | operational | recommended | Evaluation Before Bloom Control Measures | recreational water | Before direct or indirect measures are used, consideration needs to be given to the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the watershed, as well as the costs, the environmental and social acceptability, and any regulatory requirements applicable to the approach being considered. Only after a thorough scientific evaluation should a decision be made on the best solution for cyanobacterial control. | Prior to implementing direct or indirect control methods (e.g., algaecides, artificial mixing). | high |
| #Q020 | monitoring | health | recommended | Consideration of Cyanobacteria Species in Cell Counts | recreational water | Therefore, when using total cyanobacteria cell counts, it is important to also consider the types of cyanobacteria that are being identified and where possible, their potential for toxin production. | When total cyanobacteria cell counts exceed guideline values or are used as an indicator. | high |
| #Q021 | monitoring | health | recommended | Consideration of Cyanobacteria Species in Biovolume | recreational water | Similar to total cell counts, the types of cyanobacteria that are identified, as well as their potential for toxin production, should be considered to help avoid issuing unnecessary swimming/contact advisories. | When calculating and evaluating cyanobacteria biovolume. | high |
| #Q022 | monitoring | health | recommended | E. coli Monitoring | drinking water | E. coli should be monitored in conjunction with other indicators, as part of a source-to-tap approach to producing drinking water of an acceptable quality. | As part of routine drinking water quality verification | high |
| #Q023 | corrective_action | operational | recommended | Total Coliform Investigation | drinking water | Detection of total coliforms from consecutive samples from the same site or from more than 10% of the samples collected in a given sampling period should be investigated. | Applies when total coliforms are detected in consecutive samples or exceed 10% of samples in a period. | high |
| #Q024 | corrective_action | operational | recommended | Membrane Integrity Investigation Trigger | drinking water | Measurements greater than 0.1 NTU for a period greater than 15 minutes from an individual membrane unit should immediately trigger an investigation of the membrane unit integrity. | Individual membrane unit turbidity > 0.1 NTU for > 15 minutes. | high |
| #Q025 | operational | health | mandatory | Bromate Disinfection Safety Constraint | drinking water | Efforts to reduce bromate concentrations must not compromise the effectiveness of disinfection. | During treatment processes intended to reduce bromate levels. | high |
| #Q026 | monitoring | health | recommended | Nitrate Monitoring in Chloraminated Systems | drinking water | Systems using chloramine disinfection or that have naturally occurring ammonia should monitor the level of nitrate in the distribution system. | Drinking water systems utilizing chloramination or having natural ammonia present. | high |
| #Q027 | monitoring | health | recommended | Radiological Parameter Screening | drinking water | Drinking water samples should initially be screened against a gross alpha radiation level of 0.5 Bq/L (becquerel/litre) and a gross beta level of 1 Bq/L. | Initial screening of drinking water for radiological parameters. | high |
| #Q028 | administrative | health | mandatory | Radionuclide Ratio Sum Compliance | drinking water | If more than one radionuclide in Table 1 is detected, the sum of the ratios of the observed concentration to their corresponding MAC should not exceed 1. | When multiple radionuclides are detected in a single supply. | high |
| #Q029 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Locational RAA Application | drinking water | The MAC and OG apply to all drinking water supplies (including groundwater) and are to be applied as locational running annual averages. | Applies to Aluminum concentrations in all drinking water supplies. | high |
| #Q030 | monitoring | operational | recommended | Total Coliform Distribution Monitoring | drinking water | Total coliforms should be monitored in the distribution system because they are used to indicate changes in water quality. | | high |
| #Q031 | monitoring | operational | recommended | Total Coliform Treatment Plant Monitoring | drinking water | In water leaving a treatment plant, total coliforms should be measured in conjunction with other indicators to assess water quality; the presence of total coliforms indicates a serious breach in treatment. | In water leaving a treatment plant | high |
| #Q032 | monitoring | health | recommended | Raw Water Bromide Monitoring | drinking water | Quarterly monitoring of raw water bromide is recommended to allow correlation to bromate or brominated DBPs. | To allow correlation to bromate or brominated DBPs. | high |
| #Q033 | monitoring | health | recommended | Cadmium Tap Sampling | drinking water | Sampling should be done at the tap to reflect average exposure similar to sampling done for lead. | For cadmium monitoring. | high |
| #Q034 | operational | operational | mandatory | Chlorine Dioxide Maximum Feed Dose | drinking water | A maximum feed dose of 1.2 mg/L of chlorine dioxide should not be exceeded to control the formation of chlorite and chlorate. | During disinfection with chlorine dioxide. | high |
| #Q035 | corrective_action | health | recommended | Cyanobacterial Toxins Public Warning | drinking water | As a precautionary measure, where levels of total microcystins in treated water are detected above a reference value of 0.4 µg/L, the public in the affected area should use an alternate suitable source of drinking water (such as bottled water) to reconstitute infant formula. | When microcystin levels in treated water exceed 0.4 µg/L. | high |
| #Q036 | operational | operational | recommended | Malathion Degradation Awareness | drinking water | When using oxidation or advanced oxidation processes for malathion removal, water utilities should be aware of the potential for the formation of degradation by products. | When using oxidation or advanced oxidation for malathion removal. | high |
| #Q037 | monitoring | health | recommended | Nitrate Well Water Testing | drinking water | Homeowners with a well should test concentration of nitrate in their water supply. | For private well owners. | high |
| #Q038 | operational | health | recommended | THM Concentration Minimization | drinking water | Utilities should make every effort to maintain concentrations as low as reasonably achievable without compromising the effectiveness of disinfection. | For Trihalomethanes (THMs). | high |
| #Q039 | operational | aesthetic | recommended | Zinc Plumbing Flushing | drinking water | plumbing should be thoroughly flushed before water is consumed. | When zinc levels are above the AO (tends to be opalescent). | high |
| #Q040 | operational | health | recommended | Water Softener Separate Supply | drinking water | Where a water softener is used, a separate unsoftened supply for cooking and drinking purposes is recommended. | When a sodium-based water softener is used. | high |
| #Q041 | operational | operational | recommended | Ammonia Nitrification Control | drinking water | To help prevent nitrification, limit excess free ammonia entering the distribution system to below 0.1 mg/L, and preferably below 0.05 mg/L, measured as nitrogen. | In systems where ammonia is present or added. | high |
| #Q042 | treatment | health | recommended | PFAS ALARA Maintenance | drinking water | When treatment is required, it is also recommended that treatment plants strive to maintain PFAS concentrations in drinking water as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). | When treatment for PFAS is required. | high |
| #Q043 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Dimethoate Additive Approach | drinking water | An additive approach should be taken in which the sum of the detected concentrations of dimethoate and omethoate (expressed as a dimethoate equivalent value) does not exceed the MAC for dimethoate. | When both dimethoate and omethoate are detected. | high |
| #Q044 | operational | operational | recommended | Distribution System Turbidity Goal | drinking water | To ensure effectiveness of disinfection and for good operation of the distribution system, it is recommended that water entering the distribution system have turbidity levels of 1.0 NTU or less. | Applies to water entering the distribution system. | high |
| #Q045 | administrative | treatment | recommended | Filtration Exemption Decision Authority | drinking water | The decision to exempt a waterworks from filtration should be made by the appropriate authority based on site-specific considerations, including historical and ongoing monitoring data. | For systems using surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water. | high |
| #Q046 | operational | operational | recommended | Chlorate Formation Management | drinking water | As chlorate is difficult to remove once formed, its formation should be controlled by respecting the maximum feed dose of 1.2 mg/L of chlorine dioxide and managing /monitoring formation in hypochlorite solutions. | When using chlorine dioxide or hypochlorite for disinfection. | high |
| #Q047 | monitoring | health | guidance | PFAS Speciation Trigger | drinking water | If measurements of PFAS in drinking water are approaching or exceed the 30 ng/L objective, it may be useful to examine the types of PFAS that are present in the greatest concentrations. | When total PFAS concentrations approach or exceed 30 ng/L. | high |
| #Q048 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Radionuclide Analysis Requirement | drinking water | Individual radionuclide analysis is only necessary when one (or both) [gross alpha radiation level of 0.5 Bq/L and a gross beta level of 1 Bq/L] are exceeded. | Following gross alpha and beta screening. | high |
| #Q049 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Laboratory Analysis for Toxin Detection | recreational water | It is also not possible to determine if a cyanobacteria bloom contains toxins by visual inspection; samples must be sent to a laboratory for analysis. | To determine if a cyanobacteria bloom contains toxins | high |
| #Q050 | administrative | operational | recommended | Inter-agency Action Plan Development | recreational water | prior discussion with local groups (e.g., other potentially affected parties, wildlife or agriculture agencies, analytical laboratories) is important to develop an appropriate action plan for use when/if it is needed. | Prior to bloom events for high-risk recreational areas | high |
| #Q051 | monitoring | health | guidance | Benthic Toxin Testing Recommendation | recreational water | When Lyngbya benthic blooms are found in recreational areas, submitting bloom material for toxin testing will provide a better idea of potential health risks. | When Lyngbya benthic blooms are encountered in recreational areas. | high |
| #Q052 | administrative | operational | guidance | In-depth Microscopy Training | recreational water | Individuals can learn to count and identify cyanobacteria cells if they have some experience in microscopy and receive specific training for identifying and quantifying cyanobacteria. | For personnel responsible for identifying and quantifying cyanobacteria in samples. | high |