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Document ID ca-errisug-2013-08-08-8 Title Effluent Regulatory Reporting Information System user guide URL https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/water-quality/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-summary-table.html Jurisdiction /ca Subdomain(s) none Language Status completed Analyzed at 2026-05-13 14:47:34.856900+00:00 Relevance inventory_targeted_fetch

47 Qualitative 36 Quantitative 0 Definitions

Q Qualitative Requirements (47)

Req ID	Category	Intent	Legal Status	Name	Subdomain(s)	Context	Conditions	Confidence
#Q001	administrative	unknown	recommended	Consultation of Current Guidelines	drinking water	Health Canada updates this document regularly, but you should always consult individual guideline technical documents and guidance documents on the website Water Quality - Reports and Publications for the most current information.	When referring to water quality guidelines	high
#Q002	monitoring	health	recommended	E. coli Monitoring Approach	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.	Routine water quality verification	high
#Q003	monitoring	operational	recommended	Total Coliforms Distribution Monitoring	drinking water	Total coliforms should be monitored in the distribution system because they are used to indicate changes in water quality.	Within the distribution system	high
#Q004	monitoring	operational	recommended	Total Coliforms 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;	Water leaving a treatment plant	high
#Q005	corrective_action	health	recommended	Total Coliforms Detection 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.	Consecutive samples from same site or >10% of samples in a period	high
#Q006	administrative	operational	recommended	Turbidity Filtration Exemption	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.	Exemption from filtration	high
#Q007	design	operational	recommended	Turbidity Operational Design	drinking water	Filtration systems should be designed and operated to reduce turbidity levels as low as reasonably achievable and strive to achieve a treated water turbidity target from individual filters of less than 0.1 NTU.	Filtration systems operation	high
#Q008	corrective_action	operational	recommended	Membrane Unit Integrity Investigation	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.	Turbidity > 0.1 NTU for > 15 minutes	high
#Q009	operational	treatment	recommended	Chemical Reduction and Disinfection Efficacy	drinking water	Any measure taken to reduce concentrations of chemical substances should not compromise the effectiveness of disinfection.	When reducing chemical substance concentrations	high
#Q010	monitoring	operational	mandatory	Aluminum Monitoring Location	drinking water	The MAC and OG apply to all drinking water supplies (including groundwater) and are to be applied as locational running annual averages.	Monitoring aluminum levels	high
#Q011	monitoring	operational	recommended	Ammonia Monitoring requirement	drinking water	Levels of ammonia, either naturally present in the source water or added as part of a disinfection strategy, can affect water quality in the distribution system (e.g., nitrification) and should be monitored.	Presence of ammonia from source or disinfection	high
#Q012	operational	health	recommended	Arsenic ALARA	drinking water	levels should be kept as low as reasonably achievable.	Arsenic presence in drinking water	high
#Q013	prohibition	health	mandatory	Bromate Reduction and Disinfection Prohibition	drinking water	Efforts to reduce bromate concentrations must not compromise the effectiveness of disinfection.	When applying efforts to reduce bromate	high
#Q014	operational	treatment	recommended	Bromate Strategy and Monitoring	drinking water	The recommended strategy is controlling the ozonation process; use of certified treatment chemicals and; appropriate handling and storage of hypochlorite. Quarterly monitoring of raw water bromide is recommended to allow correlation to bromate or brominated DBPs.	Managing bromate formation	high
#Q015	monitoring	health	recommended	Cadmium Sampling Location	drinking water	Sampling should be done at the tap to reflect average exposure similar to sampling done for lead.	Monitoring cadmium levels	high
#Q016	corrective_action	health	recommended	Cadmium Component Replacement	drinking water	The best approach to minimize exposure to cadmium from drinking water is to replace galvanized steel and components.	To minimize exposure to cadmium	high
#Q017	operational	health	recommended	Chlorate Formation Control	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.	Using chlorine dioxide or hypochlorite	high
#Q018	prohibition	treatment	recommended	Chlorine Dioxide Dose Exceedance	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.	Using chlorine dioxide	high
#Q019	operational	health	recommended	Chlorite Formation Control	drinking water	Chlorite 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.	Using chlorine dioxide or hypochlorite	high
#Q020	monitoring	health	recommended	Copper Tap Sampling	drinking water	Water samples should be taken at the tap.	Monitoring copper levels	high
#Q021	corrective_action	health	recommended	Cyanobacterial Toxins Alternative Source	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.	Total microcystins detected above 0.4 µg/L	high
#Q022	operational	health	recommended	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 dimethoate and omethoate are present	high
#Q023	design	treatment	mandatory	1,4-Dioxane Treatment Consideration	drinking water	Treatment technologies such as advanced oxidation processes and synthetic adsorbents need to be considered.	Treatment of 1,4-Dioxane	high
#Q024	design	health	recommended	Hardness Unsoftened Supply	drinking water	Where a water softener is used, a separate unsoftened supply for cooking and drinking purposes is recommended.	Where a water softener is used	high
#Q025	monitoring	health	recommended	Lead ALARA and Sampling	drinking water	Lead levels should be kept as low as reasonably achievable. Sampling should be done at the tap to reflect average exposure.	Monitoring lead levels	high
#Q026	corrective_action	health	recommended	Lead Service Line Removal	drinking water	The best approach to minimize exposure to lead from drinking water is to remove the full lead service line.	To minimize lead exposure	high
#Q027	operational	treatment	recommended	Malathion By-products 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.	Using oxidation/AOPs for malathion removal	high
#Q028	monitoring	health	recommended	Nitrate Monitoring in Distribution	drinking water	Systems using chloramine disinfection or that have naturally occurring ammonia should monitor the level of nitrate in the distribution system.	Systems using chloramine or with naturally occurring ammonia	high
#Q029	monitoring	health	recommended	Nitrate Well Testing	drinking water	Homeowners with a well should test concentration of nitrate in their water supply.	Homeowners with a well	high
#Q030	monitoring	health	recommended	Nitrite Monitoring in Distribution	drinking water	Systems using chloramine disinfection or that have naturally occurring ammonia should monitor the level of nitrite in the distribution system.	Systems using chloramine or with naturally occurring ammonia	high
#Q031	monitoring	health	recommended	Nitrite Well Testing	drinking water	Homeowners with a well should test concentration of nitrite in their water supply.	Homeowners with a well	high
#Q032	operational	treatment	recommended	NDMA Formation Prevention	drinking water	Levels should be kept low by preventing formation during treatment.	During drinking water treatment	high
#Q033	operational	health	recommended	PFAS ALARA Objective	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
#Q034	design	health	recommended	Sodium Unsoftened Supply	drinking water	Where a sodium-based water softener is used, a separate unsoftened supply for cooking and drinking purposes is recommended.	Where a sodium-based water softener is used	high
#Q035	operational	treatment	recommended	THMs ALARA and Precursor Removal	drinking water	Utilities should make every effort to maintain concentrations as low as reasonably achievable without compromising the effectiveness of disinfection. Recommended strategy is precursor removal.	Managing THM concentrations	high
#Q036	operational	aesthetic	recommended	Zinc Plumbing Flushing	drinking water	plumbing should be thoroughly flushed before water is consumed.	Water with zinc levels above the AO	high
#Q037	monitoring	health	recommended	Radiological Initial 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. Individual radionuclide analysis is only necessary when one (or both) of these are exceeded.	Routine operational conditions	high
#Q038	operational	health	recommended	Multiple Radionuclide Limit Ratio	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.	If more than one radionuclide is detected	high
#Q039	corrective_action	health	recommended	Chloral Hydrate Investigation	drinking water	levels above 0.2 mg/L may indicate a concern for health effects and should be investigated.	Chloral hydrate > 0.2 mg/L	high
#Q040	prohibition	health	recommended	Potassium Water Softener Avoidance	drinking water	those with kidney disease or other conditions, such as heart disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension or diabetes, and those who are taking medications that interfere with normal body potassium handling should avoid the consumption of water treated by water softeners using potassium chloride.	Individuals with kidney disease, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, or taking certain medications	high
#Q041	operational	operational	recommended	Nitrification Prevention - Ammonia Limitation	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.	To prevent nitrification in systems with ammonia	high
#Q042	monitoring	reporting	recommended	Dichlorobenzenes Isomer Analysis Requirement	drinking water	In cases where total dichlorobenzenes are measured and concentrations exceed the most stringent value (0.005 mg/L), the concentrations of the individual isomers should be established.	When total dichlorobenzenes exceed 0.005 mg/L	high
#Q043	operational	treatment	recommended	Distribution Entry Turbidity Target	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.	Water entering the distribution system	high
#Q044	operational	operational	recommended	Groundwater Turbidity Target	drinking water	For systems that use groundwater, turbidity should generally be below 1.0 NTU.	Drinking water systems using groundwater	high
#Q045	monitoring	health	guidance	PFAS Isomer Concentration Examination	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.	Measurements approaching or exceeding 30 ng/L objective	high
#Q046	administrative	health	recommended	Sodium Intake Recommendation for Restricted Diets	drinking water	For persons on strict sodium reduced diets applying to all sources, levels in drinking water should be below 20 mg/L	Persons on strict sodium reduced diets	high
#Q047	monitoring	reporting	guidance	Disinfection By-product Monitoring Frequency	drinking water	Expressed as a locational running annual average of quarterly samples.	Applies to Haloacetic acids (HAAs) and Trihalomethanes (THMs)	high

P Quantitative Requirements (36)

Req ID	Category	Intent	Legal Status	Name	Subdomain(s)	Limit Type	Limit Value	Context	Conditions	Confidence
#P001	microbiological	treatment	guideline	Enteric protozoa: Giardia and Cryptosporidium	drinking water	treatment_goal	>= 3 log	Treatment goal: Minimum 3 log removal and/or inactivation of cysts and oocysts	Depending on the source water quality, a greater log removal and/or inactivation may be required.	high
#P002	microbiological	treatment	guideline	Enteric viruses	drinking water	treatment_goal	>= 4 log	Treatment goal: Minimum 4 log reduction (removal and/or inactivation) of enteric viruses		high
#P003	microbiological	health	mandatory	Escherichia coli (E. coli)	drinking water	MAC	0 per 100 mL	MAC: None detectable per 100 mL	water leaving a treatment plant, in a distribution or storage system, non-disinfected groundwater	high
#P004	microbiological	operational	mandatory	Total coliforms	drinking water	MAC	0 per 100 mL	MAC of none detectable/100 mL in water leaving a treatment plant and in non-disinfected groundwater leaving the well	water leaving a treatment plant and in non-disinfected groundwater leaving the well	high
#P005	physical	treatment	mandatory	Turbidity - Conventional and direct filtration	drinking water	requirement	<= 0.3 NTU	Treatment limits for individual filters or units	in at least 95% of measurements either per filter cycle or per month; never to exceed 1.0 NTU.	high
#P006	physical	treatment	mandatory	Turbidity - slow sand and diatomaceous earth filtration	drinking water	requirement	<= 1.0 NTU	Treatment limits for individual filters or units	in at least 95% of measurements either per filter cycle or per month; never to exceed 3.0 NTU.	high
#P007	physical	treatment	mandatory	Turbidity - membrane filtration	drinking water	requirement	<= 0.1 NTU	Treatment limits for individual filters or units	in at least 99% of measurements per operational filter period or per month. Measurements greater than 0.1 NTU for a period greater than 15 minutes from an individual membrane unit should immediately trigger an investigation.	high
#P008	chemical	health	mandatory	Aluminum	drinking water	MAC	2.9 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters	apply to all drinking water supplies (including groundwater) and are to be applied as locational running annual averages.	high
#P009	chemical	operational	guidance	Aluminum	drinking water	OG	0.1 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P010	chemical	operational	guidance	Ammonia	drinking water	requirement	< 0.1 mg/L	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.		medium
#P011	chemical	health	mandatory	Antimony	drinking water	MAC	0.006 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P012	chemical	health	mandatory	Arsenic	drinking water	MAC	0.010 mg/L	ALARA	elevated levels associated with certain groundwaters; levels should be kept as low as reasonably achievable.	high
#P013	chemical	health	mandatory	Atrazine	drinking water	MAC	0.005 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P014	chemical	health	mandatory	Barium	drinking water	MAC	2.0 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P015	chemical	health	mandatory	Benzene	drinking water	MAC	0.005 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P016	chemical	health	mandatory	Benzo[a]pyrene	drinking water	MAC	0.00004 mg/L	Document limit: 0.000 04 mg/L		medium
#P017	chemical	health	mandatory	Bromate	drinking water	MAC	0.01 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P018	chemical	aesthetic	recommended	Chloride	drinking water	AO	<= 250 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P019	chemical	treatment	mandatory	Chlorine dioxide	drinking water	requirement	<= 1.2 mg/L	A maximum feed dose of 1.2 mg/L of chlorine dioxide should not be exceeded to control the formation of chlorite and chlorate.		high
#P020	physical	aesthetic	recommended	Colour	drinking water	AO	<= 15 TCU	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P021	chemical	health	mandatory	Copper	drinking water	MAC	2 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P022	chemical	aesthetic	recommended	Copper	drinking water	AO	1 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P023	chemical	health	mandatory	Cyanobacterial toxins	drinking water	MAC	0.0015 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P024	chemical	health	mandatory	Fluoride	drinking water	MAC	1.5 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P025	chemical	health	mandatory	Lead	drinking water	MAC	0.005 mg/L	ALARA		high
#P026	chemical	health	mandatory	Manganese	drinking water	MAC	0.12 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P027	chemical	aesthetic	recommended	Manganese	drinking water	AO	<= 0.02 mg/L	Table 2. Chemical and Physical Parameters		high
#P028	chemical	health	mandatory	Nitrate	drinking water	MAC	45 mg/L	45 as nitrate		high
#P029	chemical	health	mandatory	Nitrate	drinking water	MAC	10 mg/L	10 as nitrate-nitrogen		high
#P030	chemical	health	guideline	Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)	drinking water	requirement	0.00003 mg/L	Objective: 0.00003 ALARA	applies to the sum of 25 specified PFAS.	high
#P031	physical	operational	recommended	pH	drinking water	requirement	7.0-10.5 pH	Other value: 7.0-10.5		high
#P032	radiological	health	guidance	Gross alpha radiation	drinking water	requirement	0.5 Bq/L	Drinking water samples should initially be screened against a gross alpha radiation level of 0.5 Bq/L		high
#P033	radiological	health	guidance	Gross beta radiation	drinking water	requirement	1 Bq/L	and a gross beta level of 1 Bq/L		high
#P034	radiological	health	mandatory	Lead-210	drinking water	MAC	2 Bq/L	Table 3. Radiological Parameters		high
#P035	radiological	health	mandatory	Radium-226	drinking water	MAC	5 Bq/L	Table 3. Radiological Parameters		high
#P036	radiological	health	mandatory	Radium-228	drinking water	MAC	2 Bq/L	Table 3. Radiological Parameters		high

D Definitions (0)

No definitions.