| #Q001 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Off-Season Permit Exemption | other | If you require a permit during the off-season, please contactTWC@toronto.ca for an exemption. | During the off-season (November 16 to April 14) | high |
| #Q002 | administrative | operational | guidance | Permitted Permit Uses | other | Permits can be requested for: filming (e.g. television, movies, etc.), watering plants for a Business Improvement Area, construction projects for Toronto Water (you will be required to provide a City of Toronto contact name and contract number), filling a swimming pool | | high |
| #Q003 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Prohibited Permit Uses | other | Permits cannot be requested for: private construction, development or landscaping, charity car washes, power washing, filling a water tank or vehicle | | high |
| #Q004 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Advance Application Timing | other | Online application and payment must be made at least 10 business days in advance of the requested date. | | high |
| #Q005 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Payment Method | other | Payment must be made by credit card (American Express, VISA or Mastercard). | | high |
| #Q006 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Hose Street Crossing Prohibition | other | For pool filling: Hoses cannot cross a street or sidewalk. | Pool filling | high |
| #Q007 | administrative | operational | recommended | Neighbour Permission for Hose Crossing | other | Should you wish to use a hydrant that may result in the hose crossing a neighbour’s property and/or driveway, it is recommend that you get the neighbour’s verbal permission before you submit an application. | When hose crosses a neighbour's property and/or driveway | high |
| #Q008 | operational | health | mandatory | Turn On Appointment Illness Cancellation | other | If the certified contractor is feeling unwell, contact TWC@toronto.ca to cancel or reschedule the appointment. | If the certified contractor is feeling unwell | high |
| #Q009 | operational | operational | mandatory | Required Equipment on Turn On Date | other | On the “Turn On” date, you must bring a 5 cm (2-inch) fire hose for each hydrant (and a chain and lock). | On the “Turn On” date | high |
| #Q010 | operational | health | mandatory | Turn Off Appointment COVID-19 Illness Reporting | other | If you are feeling unwell or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms on the day of your appointment, please contact TWC@toronto.ca to cancel or reschedule. You may also have a representative attend in your place if they are well and exhibiting no signs of COVID-19. | If feeling unwell or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms | high |
| #Q011 | operational | operational | mandatory | Meet Staff for Equipment Removal | other | Meet staff at the agreed upon date and time so that they can remove the chain and lock, hose, meter and backflow prevention device. | On the 'Turn Off' date | high |
| #Q012 | operational | health | mandatory | Physical Distancing from Staff | other | Permit holder (or representative) must physically distance from City of Toronto staff at all times by keeping 2 metres 6 feet) away. | During interaction with City of Toronto staff | high |
| #Q013 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Permit Cancellation Notice Requirement | other | Please contact the Toronto Water staff who booked the turn on/turn off date at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment. | When cancelling, changing, or extending a permit | high |
| #Q014 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Permit Extension Rejection | other | Requests to extend hydrant use will not be accepted when staff arrive on-site to turn off the water. | When staff arrive on-site to turn off the water | high |
| #Q015 | operational | operational | mandatory | Hydrant Use Date Restriction | other | Applicants are responsible for: the use of the hydrants only on the dates covered under the Permit. | | high |
| #Q016 | operational | operational | mandatory | Applicant Equipment Supply Obligation | other | Applicants are responsible for: supplying a hose and industrial chain and lock for each of the requested hydrants. | | high |
| #Q017 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Liability for Claims | other | Applicants are responsible for: any claims that may arise while the hydrant was in use. Applicants must agree to compensate and hold the City of Toronto harmless for any claims. | | high |
| #Q018 | operational | operational | mandatory | Protection of Supplied Equipment | other | Applicants are responsible for: protecting the fittings, backflow prevention device and water meter supplied by the City. This includes damage from frost or extreme cold weather. | | high |
| #Q019 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Cost of Repairs or Damage | other | Applicants are responsible for: covering the costs of any repairs or damage made to the fittings, backflow prevention device, water meter or hydrant. | | high |
| #Q020 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Hose Crossings Roadways or Sidewalks Prohibition | other | Applicants are responsible for: ensuring that hoses do not cross roadways or sidewalks. | | high |
| #Q021 | operational | operational | mandatory | Hydrant Operation Restriction | other | Hydrants can only be operated by City staff. Any unauthorized use of fire hydrants is considered water theft and can result in enforcement of the Water Supply By-law and possible prosecution. | | high |
| #Q022 | administrative | health | mandatory | Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance | drinking water | The City of Toronto ensures that residents, businesses and visitors have access to clean, safe drinking water... so that water always meets or exceeds the Safe Drinking Water Act set by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). | | high |
| #Q023 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Bacteriological Testing Frequency | drinking water | Toronto Water’s accredited and licensed lab: tests drinking water samples collected every six hours at the water treatment plants for bacteriological quality (almost 6,000 times a year) | At water treatment plants | high |
| #Q024 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Annual Water Treatment Plant Testing Volume | drinking water | Toronto Water’s accredited and licensed lab: conducts more than 20,000 tests at the water treatment plants annually | | high |
| #Q025 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Annual Water Distribution System Testing Volume | drinking water | Toronto Water’s accredited and licensed lab: conducts more than 15,000 tests on samples collected from the water distribution system annually | Samples collected from the water distribution system | high |
| #Q026 | operational | operational | mandatory | Infrastructure Monitoring Duty | drinking water | Staff monitor: four water treatment plants, 18 pumping stations, 11 underground reservoirs, four elevated storage tanks, more than 5,000 km of watermains | | high |
| #Q027 | operational | operational | mandatory | Pressure Zone Monitoring and Adjustment | drinking water | To ensure adequate water pressure and supply, Toronto is split into six pressure zones and subdivided into 13 pressure districts, which are continuously monitored and adjusted based on demand. | | high |
| #Q028 | treatment | health | mandatory | Chemical Disinfection and Treatment Protocols | drinking water | Before water is pumped for distribution to homes and businesses, the following is added: chlorine to destroy bacteria and viruses; fluoride to help prevent tooth decay; ammonia to ensure chlorine levels remain present as water travels through the distribution system; phosphoric acid, which is used for corrosion control | Before water is pumped for distribution | high |
| #Q029 | reporting | operational | recommended | Water Quality Service Request Procedure | drinking water | If the water is still cloudy or sediment appears, please contact 311 to initiate a water quality service request. | If the water is still cloudy or sediment appears after running cold water tap | high |
| #Q030 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Chlorine Level Monitoring | drinking water | The range of chlorine used is set by the MECP (and is continuously monitored by the City to ensure the water is safe to drink). | | high |
| #Q031 | administrative | health | mandatory | Laboratory Accreditation and Licensing | drinking water | Toronto Water’s accredited and licensed lab | | high |
| #Q032 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Drinking Water Quality and System Reporting | drinking water | drinking water quality and system reports submitted to the MECP regarding the operations, capital and operating budgets of the drinking water system | | high |
| #Q033 | treatment | treatment | mandatory | Debris Removal Screening | drinking water | Lake water passes through screens to remove large debris. | Raw water intake | high |
| #Q034 | treatment | treatment | mandatory | Coagulation and Flocculation | drinking water | Alum or poly-aluminum chloride is added to the water to bring particles in the water together and form larger particles called floc. | | high |
| #Q035 | treatment | treatment | mandatory | Granular Media Filtration | drinking water | The clear water at the top proceeds to filters containing gravel, sand and carbon to remove suspended impurities and microorganisms. | Post-settling | high |
| #Q036 | operational | operational | mandatory | Computerized Process Control Oversight | drinking water | To ensure an uninterrupted water supply, there is a computerized process control system overseen by Toronto Water staff. | | high |
| #Q037 | operational | operational | mandatory | Emergency and Peak Demand Water Storage | drinking water | Additional water is stored in tanks and reservoirs, which helps maintain pressure and enough supply during peak periods and emergencies, such as fires, watermain breaks and power outages. | During peak periods and emergencies | high |
| #Q038 | treatment | health | mandatory | Primary Disinfection Process | drinking water | Water is disinfected by using either chlorine or ozone. | Initial treatment stage following screening | high |
| #Q039 | operational | aesthetic | recommended | Cloudy Water Mitigation | drinking water | To reduce the cloudy appearance: run a cold water tap to allow the air to escape; pour some cold water into a glass. | In response to cloudy tap water | high |
| #Q040 | operational | aesthetic | guidance | Mineral Deposit Removal | drinking water | If mineral deposits build up on fixtures, they can be removed using vinegar or a commercial hardness remover. | When mineral deposits build up | high |
| #Q041 | operational | aesthetic | guidance | Chlorine Taste and Odour Mitigation | drinking water | If you are sensitive to chlorine taste and odours, fill a pitcher with water and let it stand overnight in the refrigerator or add ice and a slice of lemon, lime or fruit to the water. | If sensitive to chlorine taste and odours | high |
| #Q042 | operational | aesthetic | guidance | Earthy or Musty Taste and Odour Mitigation | drinking water | If you are sensitive to the smell or taste, you can fill a pitcher with water and let it stand overnight in the refrigerator or add ice and a slice of lemon, lime or other fruit to your water. | If sensitive to earthy or musty smell/taste | high |
| #Q043 | operational | aesthetic | guidance | Discoloured Tap Water Resolution | drinking water | If only one tap is affected, this indicates a private plumbing issue. You may wish to contact a plumber. If all taps are affected, this may be a result of plumbing work on your property, construction on a watermain in the area, or nearby fire hydrant use. | In response to discoloured or rusty tap water | high |
| #Q044 | treatment | treatment | mandatory | Sedimentation Treatment Process | drinking water | The water travels through settling basins to allow larger particles to settle to the bottom. | Following coagulation and flocculation | high |
| #Q045 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Health and Federal Standards Compliance | drinking water | Toronto’s tap water is continuously tested, monitored and analyzed to ensure it meets the strict standards of Toronto Public Health, the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada. | | high |
| #Q046 | treatment | treatment | mandatory | Small Particle and Microplastic Removal | drinking water | The City’s water treatment plants have a multi-barrier water treatment system in place which can remove small particles, including microplastics in the one to two micron size range (one micron is equal to 0.001 mm). | Utilizing chemically-assisted filtration | high |