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Document ID ca-on-mdwslrp-2026-05-06 Title Municipal drinking water systems: licensing, registration and permits URL https://www.ontario.ca/page/municipal-drinking-water-systems-licensing-registration-and-permits Jurisdiction /ca/on Subdomain(s) none Language Status completed Analyzed at 2026-05-12 04:17:48.020729+00:00 Relevance inventory_targeted_fetch

Q Qualitative Requirements (27)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Context Conditions Confidence
#Q001treatmenthealthmandatoryCompliance with Drinking Water Quality Standardsdrinking waterEvery owner and operator of a drinking water system must ensure that: the system’s water meets Ontario’s Drinking Water Quality Standardshigh
#Q002operationaloperationalmandatoryTrained and Licensed Operatorsdrinking waterEvery owner and operator of a drinking water system must ensure that: anyone who operates or works on their system is properly trained and licensedhigh
#Q003monitoringoperationalmandatoryTesting by Accredited Laboratoriesdrinking waterEvery owner and operator of a drinking water system must ensure that: drinking water tests are done by licensed, accredited laboratorieshigh
#Q004reportingreportingmandatoryReporting Adverse Test Resultsdrinking waterEvery owner and operator of a drinking water system must ensure that: adverse test results are reported to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and the local medical officer of healthhigh
#Q005operationaloperationalmandatoryAccredited Operating Authoritydrinking waterAn accredited operating authority must be in charge of a municipal residential drinking water system at all times.Applies to municipal residential drinking water systems.high
#Q006administrativeoperationalmandatoryEstablish Quality Management Systemdrinking waterTo be accredited, you must establish and maintain a quality management system that meets the requirements of Ontario’s Drinking Water Quality Management Standard (DWQMS).Required for accreditation.high
#Q007administrativeoperationalmandatoryMunicipal System Licensingdrinking waterMunicipal residential systems must be licensed under the Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program.Applies to municipal residential systems.high
#Q008administrativeoperationalmandatoryLicence Validity Conditionsdrinking waterLicences are valid for 5 years as long as you: maintain your status as (or employ) an accredited operating authority; prepare a financial plan and have it approved by your municipal council; have a valid permit to take water; operate your drinking water system according to the conditions in your licenceConditions to maintain a 5-year licence.high
#Q009administrativeoperationalmandatorySystem Registrationdrinking waterOperators must register drinking water systems and keep information up to date.high
#Q010designoperationalmandatoryApproval for System Alterationsdrinking waterTo make any additions, modifications, replacements or extensions to your drinking water system, changes must be either approved through a Schedule C amendment to your drinking water works permit or pre-authorized through a condition in your drinking water works permit.Required when making additions, modifications, replacements, or extensions to the system.high
#Q011reportingreportingmandatoryDirector Notification for Alterationsdrinking waterDirector Notification is required within 30 days of completing or placing the alteration into service if: a pre-authorized alteration will change the description of a drinking water system component in your drinking water works permit; the alteration was approved through a Schedule C amendmentWithin 30 days of completing or placing specific qualifying alterations into service.high
#Q012reportingreportingmandatoryRecord Keeping for Pre-authorized Alterationsdrinking waterYou are required to keep this record at the drinking water system for a minimum of 10 years.Applies when taking advantage of conditions preauthorized in the drinking water works permit.high
#Q013monitoringhealthmandatoryLead Testing Obligationdrinking waterOwners and operators of municipal residential drinking water systems must test for lead. You need to take water samples from these 2 sources: plumbing—pipes inside the home or building; distribution locations—pipes leading to the home or buildingApplies to municipal residential drinking water systems.high
#Q014administrativeoperationalmandatoryProperty Owner Permission for Testingdrinking waterYou must obtain permission from the owner of the property before testing.Applies prior to taking plumbing samples.high
#Q015monitoringoperationalmandatoryPlumbing Sampling Proceduredrinking waterSteps: 1. Turn on tap for at least 5 minutes to flush water from lines, turn off. 2. Wait 30 to 35 minutes—do not use plumbing. 3. Put bottle under tap, turn tap on to normal flow rate and take 3 samples continuously without turning off the tap and with as little spillage as possible between samples. 4. Take 1 one-litre sample for lead testing. 5. Take a 2nd one-litre sample for lead testing. 6. Take a 3rd sample and perform pH testing using an electronic pH meter with a sample size per metre specifications.When conducting lead testing from plumbing pipes inside the home or building.high
#Q016monitoringoperationalmandatoryDistribution Sample Timing and Locationdrinking waterA distribution sample must be taken on the same day and from a location as close as reasonably possible to the locations where plumbing samples are being taken.When taking lead and alkalinity samples from distribution locations.high
#Q017monitoringoperationalmandatoryDistribution Sampling Proceduredrinking waterSteps: 1. Flush sampling point (hydrant or tap) until you can get a sample from that part of the system. 2. Take 1 sample for lead testing (size identified by the lab conducting the test). 3. Take a sample for total alkalinity (size identified by the lab conducting the test). 4. Take a sample and perform pH testing using an electronic pH meter with a sample size per meter identification.When conducting testing from distribution locations.high
#Q018reportingreportingmandatoryAnnual Report Lead Informationdrinking waterThe owner or operating authority of the system must include the following information in their Annual Report: number of points sampled; number of samples taken; number of points where a sample exceeded the standard for leadMandatory inclusion in the Annual Report.high
#Q019reportingreportingmandatoryAdverse Test Oral Notificationdrinking waterlicensed laboratories and drinking water system owners are required to report as below: Provide oral notice to Spills Action Centre (SAC) at 1-800-268-6060 or 416-325-3000 and the local medical officer of health.In the case of adverse drinking water test results for systems regulated under Ontario Regulation 170/03.high
#Q020reportingreportingmandatoryAdverse Test Written Notification (24 Hours)drinking waterProvide written notice to SAC and the local medical officer of health within 24 hours of the oral notice.Within 24 hours of providing the required oral notice of an adverse test result.high
#Q021reportingreportingmandatoryIssue Resolution Written Notificationdrinking waterProvide written notice to SAC and the local medical officer of health within 7 days after the issue has been resolved, summarizing the action taken and the results achieved.Within 7 days after the adverse test issue has been resolved.high
#Q022reportingreportingmandatoryLaboratory Services Notification Proceduredrinking waterTo register: 2. Complete the Laboratory Services Notification form (when you receive your Drinking Water System Number) - fax the completed form to: 416-314-8716Upon receiving a Drinking Water System Number during registration.high
#Q023administrativeoperationalmandatoryPermit Amendment Mailing Proceduredrinking waterTo amend your permit: 3. Submit form and supporting information by mail to: Director, Safe Drinking Water Act—Part V, 135 St. Clair Ave. West, 1st Floor, Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5When applying for an amendment to a drinking water works permit (DWWP).high
#Q024reportingreportingmandatoryDirector Notification Submission Proceduredrinking waterTo notify the Director: 1. Complete the Director Notification Form. 2. Submit form by email: MDWLP@ontario.ca.When notifying the Director of alterations within 30 days of completion or placing into service.high
#Q025administrativeoperationalmandatoryDrinking Water System Profile Form Submissiondrinking waterTo register: 1. Complete the Drinking Water System Profile Information form - email the completed form to: waterforms@ontario.ca. ... To update registration information: 1. Complete the Drinking Water System Profile Information form. 2. E-mail the completed form to: waterforms@ontario.ca.Required for initial registration and when information changes.high
#Q026administrativeoperationalmandatoryMunicipal Drinking Water Licence Application and Renewal Submissiondrinking waterTo apply for or amend a licence: ... 3. Submit form and requiring supporting information by email to: MDWLP@ontario.ca. ... To renew a licence: ... 2. Submit form and required supporting information by email to MDWLP@ontario.ca.When applying for a new licence, amending an existing licence, or renewing a licence.high
#Q027administrativeoperationalmandatoryCompletion of Record Forms for Pre-authorized Alterationsdrinking waterTo take advantage of the conditions preauthorized in your drinking water works permit, complete the form(s) for your records. ... Form 1—Record of watermains authorized as a future alteration; Form 2—Record minor modifications or replacements to the drinking water system; Form 3—Record of addition, modification or replacement of equipment discharging a contaminant of concern to the atmosphereRequired to utilize preauthorized conditions in the drinking water works permit.high

P Quantitative Requirements (5)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Limit Type Limit Value Context Conditions Confidence
#P001designoperationalmandatoryNumber of private residences for Large residential systemsdrinking waterrequirement>= 100 private residencesServe 100+ private residences.Large residential systems classificationhigh
#P002designoperationalmandatoryNumber of private residences for Small residential systemsdrinking waterrequirement6 to 100 private residencesServe 6 to 100 private residences.Small residential systems classificationhigh
#P003designoperationalmandatoryFlow rate for Large non-residential systemsdrinking waterrequirement> 2.9 litres per secondSupply water to designated facilities (e.g., day cares, schools, hospitals) at a rate greater than 2.9 litres per second.Large non-residential systems classificationhigh
#P004designoperationalmandatoryFlow rate for Small non-residential systemsdrinking waterrequirement< 2.9 litres per secondSupply water to designated facilities (e.g., day cares, schools, hospitals) at a rate less than 2.9 litres per second.Small non-residential systems classificationhigh
#P005operationaloperationalmandatorySample size for lead testingdrinking waterrequirement1 litreTake 1 one-litre sample for lead testing. Take a 2nd one-litre sample for lead testing.Plumbing samples for lead testinghigh

D Definitions (25)

Req ID Category Name Context Confidence
#D001primary airportA primary airport is a commercial service airport with more than 10,000 passenger boardings each year (49 U.S.C. 47102).high
#D002general permitAn NPDES general permit is written to cover multiple dischargers with similar operations and types of discharges.high
#D003NPDESNational Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systemhigh
#D004Large residentialServe 100+ private residences.high
#D005Small residentialServe 6 to 100 private residences.high
#D006Large non-residentialSupply water to designated facilities (e.g., day cares, schools, hospitals) at a rate greater than 2.9 litres per second.high
#D007Small non-residentialSupply water to designated facilities (e.g., day cares, schools, hospitals) at a rate less than 2.9 litres per second.high
#D008DWQMSDrinking Water Quality Management Standardhigh
#D009DWWPdrinking water works permithigh
#D010pHpotential of hydrogenhigh
#D011SACSpills Action Centrehigh
#D012PFASPer- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substanceshigh
#D013NPDWRNational Primary Drinking Water Regulationhigh
#D014small systemsthose serving 10,000 or fewer peoplehigh
#D015UCMR 5fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rulehigh
#D016SDWASafe Drinking Water Acthigh
#D017HFPO-DAcommonly known as GenXhigh
#D018Rule crosswalka side-by-side comparison of the federal requirements and the corresponding State authorities for the development of the primacy applicationhigh
#D019directA point source that discharges pollutants to waters of the United States, such as streams, lakes, or oceans.high
#D020indirectA facility that discharges pollutants to a publicly owned treatment works (municipal sewage treatment plant).high
#D021Battery manufacturingencompasses the production of modular electric power sources where part or all of the fuel is contained within the unit and electric power is generated directly from a chemical reaction.high
#D022NAICSNorth American Industry Classification Systemhigh
#D023TSStotal suspended solidshigh
#D024CODchemical oxygen demandhigh
#D025[*]requiredhigh