| #Q001 | 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. | Applicable to water leaving a treatment plant, in a distribution or storage system, and in non-disinfected groundwater. | high |
| #Q002 | monitoring | operational | recommended | Total Coliforms Monitoring in Distribution System | drinking water | Total coliforms should be monitored in the distribution system because they are used to indicate changes in water quality. | In a distribution and storage system. | high |
| #Q003 | monitoring | operational | recommended | Total Coliforms Monitoring at Treatment Plant | 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 |
| #Q004 | corrective_action | health | recommended | Investigation of Total Coliform Detections | 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. | When consecutive samples or >10% of samples in a period detect total coliforms. | high |
| #Q005 | administrative | treatment | recommended | Exemption from Filtration Decision | 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. | | high |
| #Q006 | design | treatment | recommended | Filtration System Turbidity Reduction | 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. | | high |
| #Q007 | corrective_action | treatment | 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. | Applicable to membrane filtration. | high |
| #Q008 | treatment | health | recommended | Maintenance of Disinfection Effectiveness | drinking water | Any measure taken to reduce concentrations of chemical substances should not compromise the effectiveness of disinfection. | | high |
| #Q009 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Aluminum Limit 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. | Applicable to Aluminum. | high |
| #Q010 | monitoring | operational | recommended | Ammonia Monitoring | 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. | | high |
| #Q011 | treatment | health | recommended | Arsenic ALARA | drinking water | levels should be kept as low as reasonably achievable. | Applicable to Arsenic. | high |
| #Q012 | treatment | health | mandatory | Bromate Reduction and Disinfection Effectiveness | drinking water | Efforts to reduce bromate concentrations must not compromise the effectiveness of disinfection. | | high |
| #Q013 | monitoring | treatment | recommended | Raw Water Bromide Monitoring | drinking water | Quarterly monitoring of raw water bromide is recommended to allow correlation to bromate or brominated DBPs. | Applicable to raw water in relation to Bromate. | high |
| #Q014 | 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. | Applicable to Cadmium. | high |
| #Q015 | corrective_action | health | guidance | Cadmium Exposure Minimization | drinking water | The best approach to minimize exposure to cadmium from drinking water is to replace galvanized steel and components. | | medium |
| #Q016 | operational | treatment | 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. | | high |
| #Q017 | operational | treatment | recommended | 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. | | high |
| #Q018 | operational | treatment | 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. | | high |
| #Q019 | monitoring | health | recommended | Copper Tap Sampling | drinking water | Water samples should be taken at the tap. | Applicable to Copper. | high |
| #Q020 | corrective_action | health | recommended | Alternative Water Source for Infants (Microcystins) | 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 total microcystins are detected above 0.4 µg/L. | high |
| #Q021 | monitoring | health | recommended | Dichlorobenzene Isomers Establishment | 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 |
| #Q022 | monitoring | health | recommended | Dimethoate and Omethoate 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. | | high |
| #Q023 | treatment | treatment | mandatory | 1,4-Dioxane Treatment Consideration | drinking water | Treatment technologies such as advanced oxidation processes and synthetic adsorbents need to be considered. | Applicable for the removal of 1,4-Dioxane. | high |
| #Q024 | design | aesthetic | recommended | Separate Unsoftened Water Supply (Hardness) | drinking water | Where a water softener is used, a separate unsoftened supply for cooking and drinking purposes is recommended. | When dealing with Hardness and water softeners. | high |
| #Q025 | treatment | health | recommended | Lead ALARA | drinking water | Lead levels should be kept as low as reasonably achievable. | | high |
| #Q026 | monitoring | health | recommended | Lead Tap Sampling | drinking water | Sampling should be done at the tap to reflect average exposure. | Applicable to Lead. | high |
| #Q027 | corrective_action | health | guidance | Lead Exposure Minimization | drinking water | The best approach to minimize exposure to lead from drinking water is to remove the full lead service line. | | medium |
| #Q028 | operational | treatment | recommended | Malathion Oxidation 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. | Applicable when treating for Malathion. | high |
| #Q029 | monitoring | health | recommended | Nitrate Monitoring (Distribution System) | drinking water | Systems using chloramine disinfection or that have naturally occurring ammonia should monitor the level of nitrate in the distribution system. | For systems using chloramine disinfection or with naturally occurring ammonia. | high |
| #Q030 | monitoring | health | recommended | Nitrate Well Testing | drinking water | Homeowners with a well should test concentration of nitrate in their water supply. | Applicable to homeowners with a well. | high |
| #Q031 | monitoring | health | recommended | Nitrite Monitoring (Distribution System) | drinking water | Systems using chloramine disinfection or that have naturally occurring ammonia should monitor the level of nitrite in the distribution system. | For systems using chloramine disinfection or with naturally occurring ammonia. | high |
| #Q032 | monitoring | health | recommended | Nitrite Well Testing | drinking water | Homeowners with a well should test concentration of nitrite in their water supply. | Applicable to homeowners with a well. | high |
| #Q033 | treatment | treatment | recommended | NDMA Formation Prevention | drinking water | Levels should be kept low by preventing formation during treatment. | Applicable to NDMA. | high |
| #Q034 | monitoring | health | guidance | PFAS Investigation | 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 PFAS levels approach or exceed 30 ng/L. | high |
| #Q035 | treatment | health | recommended | PFAS ALARA Treatment | 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 PFAS treatment is required. | high |
| #Q036 | design | health | recommended | Separate Unsoftened Water Supply (Sodium) | drinking water | where a sodium-based water softener is used, a separate unsoftened supply for cooking and drinking purposes is recommended. | When a sodium-based water softener is used. | high |
| #Q037 | treatment | health | recommended | Trihalomethanes ALARA | drinking water | Utilities should make every effort to maintain concentrations as low as reasonably achievable without compromising the effectiveness of disinfection. | Applicable to THMs. | high |
| #Q038 | operational | aesthetic | recommended | Flushing Zinc from Plumbing | drinking water | plumbing should be thoroughly flushed before water is consumed. | When water with zinc levels above the AO is present. | high |
| #Q039 | 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.. | | high |
| #Q040 | monitoring | health | guidance | Individual Radionuclide Analysis | drinking water | Individual radionuclide analysis is only necessary when one (or both) of these are exceeded. | When gross alpha or beta screening levels are exceeded. | high |
| #Q041 | operational | health | recommended | Radiological Sum of Ratios Limit | 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. | high |
| #Q042 | 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. | When chloral hydrate levels exceed 0.2 mg/L. | high |
| #Q043 | prohibition | health | recommended | Potassium Water Softener Consumption 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. | For individuals with kidney disease, specific health conditions, or taking certain medications. | high |
| #Q044 | operational | operational | recommended | Turbidity Entering Distribution System 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. | Applicable to water entering the distribution system to ensure disinfection effectiveness | high |
| #Q045 | operational | operational | recommended | Groundwater Turbidity Goal | drinking water | For systems that use groundwater, turbidity should generally be below 1.0 NTU. | Systems utilizing groundwater sources | high |
| #Q046 | operational | operational | recommended | Ammonia Nitrification Prevention | 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. | Applicable to water entering the distribution system where nitrification is a concern | high |
| #Q047 | operational | health | recommended | Sodium Level Advisory for Sensitive Populations | drinking water | For persons on strict sodium reduced diets applying to all sources, levels in drinking water should be below 20 mg/L | When supplying water to individuals on strict sodium reduced diets | high |
| #Q048 | administrative | unknown | recommended | Guideline Technical Document Consultation | 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. | To ensure the use of the most current regulatory information | high |
| #Q049 | treatment | treatment | recommended | Source-Specific Log Removal Adjustment | drinking water | Depending on the source water quality, a greater log removal and/or inactivation may be required. | Applicable to treatment requirements for Giardia and Cryptosporidium based on source water quality | high |
| #Q050 | treatment | treatment | recommended | Bromate Control Strategy | drinking water | The recommended strategy is controlling the ozonation process; use of certified treatment chemicals and; appropriate handling and storage of hypochlorite. | Applicable when managing bromate concentrations without compromising disinfection | high |
| #Q051 | monitoring | reporting | mandatory | Effluent Quality Monitoring and Reporting | wastewater | The owners or operators of wastewater systems must monitor and report the quality of their effluent to show that they are meeting the standards. | Applicable to all systems governed by the Regulations | high |
| #Q052 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Identification Report Submission | wastewater | Owners or operators of wastewater systems must submit an identification report within 45 days after their system comes into operation. | New wastewater systems coming into operation | high |
| #Q053 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Identification Report Updates | wastewater | Any changes or new information on the wastewater system must be submitted within 45 days of the change. | When changes or new information regarding the system occur | high |
| #Q054 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Monitoring Report Submission | wastewater | Owners and operators must submit monitoring reports regularly. | Frequency (annual or quarterly) determined by system type and size | high |
| #Q055 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Quarterly Reporting Deadlines | wastewater | For owners or operators of wastewater systems that report four times a year, the deadlines are: Quarter 1 (January 1 to March 31) - May 15; Quarter 2 (April 1 to June 30) - August 14; Quarter 3 (July 1 to September 30) - November 14; Quarter 4 (October 1 to December 31) - February 14 | Applicable to quarterly reporters | high |
| #Q056 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Annual Reporting Deadline | wastewater | For wastewater systems that report once a year, the deadline is: Annual (January 1 to December 31) -February 14 | Applicable to annual reporters | high |
| #Q057 | reporting | operational | mandatory | Combined Sewer Overflow Monthly Tracking | wastewater | Owners or operators of wastewater systems with at least one combined sewer overflow point are required to report for each month where a deposit occured: the number of days that effluent was released via each overflow point; the volume of effluent deposited from each overflow point | Applicable to systems with combined sewer overflow points for months when deposits occur | high |
| #Q058 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Combined Sewer Overflow Annual Report Deadline | wastewater | Owners and operators must submit the combined sewer overflow report once per year by February 15. | Applicable to systems with combined sewer overflow points | high |
| #Q059 | prohibition | health | mandatory | Acute Lethality Prohibition | wastewater | The effluent also cannot be acutely lethal. | Applicable to all owners and operators of wastewater systems governed by the Regulations. | high |