| #Q001 | operational | operational | mandatory | Private Well Owner Responsibility | drinking water | As a private well owner, you're responsible for monitoring and maintaining your water quality. | Applies to private well owners | high |
| #Q002 | monitoring | health | recommended | Microbial Contamination Testing Frequency | drinking water | Test your well water at least once every 6 months for microbial contamination. | | high |
| #Q003 | administrative | health | recommended | Chemical Contamination Testing Consultation | drinking water | Check with your local public health authorities about how often to test for specific chemicals in your area. | | high |
| #Q004 | monitoring | aesthetic | recommended | General Water Quality Parameters Testing Frequency | drinking water | General water quality parameters should be tested once every 2 years. | | high |
| #Q005 | monitoring | operational | recommended | Event-Based Water Testing | drinking water | You should also test your water when: there are changes in land use or activities near your well you notice a change in the colour, taste or smell of your water you complete repairs or maintenance to your well or related equipment | Triggered by specific events like land use changes, aesthetic changes, or well maintenance | high |
| #Q006 | monitoring | health | guidance | Frequent Testing for Vulnerable Wells | drinking water | You may need to test more frequently if your well is vulnerable to contamination. | If the well is dug, in bedrock, has only a thin layer of soil over it, or is shallow | high |
| #Q007 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Laboratory Instruction Compliance | drinking water | Reliable and accurate results also depend on following all instructions from the accredited laboratory on: collecting the water sample labeling and storing the water sample completing and submitting the test forms handling and transporting the water sample to the laboratory | Applies when submitting samples for testing | high |
| #Q008 | corrective_action | health | recommended | Initial Confirmation Sampling for Microbial Contamination | drinking water | Collect and test another water sample as soon as possible to confirm whether your water is contaminated with E. coli , total coliforms or both. | If E. coli or total coliform bacteria are found in your well water sample | high |
| #Q009 | corrective_action | health | recommended | Secondary Confirmation Sampling for Microbial Contamination | drinking water | If the second test doesn't show any contamination, test a third sample to confirm this result. | If the second test doesn't show any contamination | high |
| #Q010 | corrective_action | health | recommended | Corrective Action for Confirmed Microbial Contamination | drinking water | If the second or third test confirms that your well water is contaminated, shock disinfect your well and take corrective actions. | If the second or third test confirms that your well water is contaminated | high |
| #Q011 | corrective_action | health | recommended | Boil Water Advisory Action for E. coli | drinking water | If there's E. coli in your well water sample: boil any water used for drinking, cooking or teeth brushing or use another safe source of water until test results show that the water is safe to drink | If there's E. coli in your well water sample | high |
| #Q012 | operational | health | guidance | Continued Use Permission for Total Coliforms | drinking water | If there is total coliform bacteria in your well water sample: you can continue to use your drinking water while you wait for further test results. | If there is total coliform bacteria in your well water sample | high |
| #Q013 | corrective_action | health | recommended | Illness Investigation Action | drinking water | If you or a family member have a gastrointestinal illness and suspect that it's related to drinking your well water: speak to your doctor and local health unit have your water tested | Suspected waterborne gastrointestinal illness | high |
| #Q014 | corrective_action | health | mandatory | Chemical Limit Exceedance Actions | drinking water | If a chemical exceeds an acceptable level, it will need: additional sampling appropriate corrective actions | If a chemical exceeds an acceptable level | high |
| #Q015 | administrative | health | recommended | Chemical Contaminant Information Consultation | drinking water | Contact your local public health unit or drinking water authority for information on chemical contaminants that are of concern in your area. | | high |
| #Q016 | monitoring | health | guidance | Actions for High-Risk Contamination Areas | drinking water | If your well is in an area that's at high risk of contamination, you may need to: test more frequently look for suitable treatment options | If the well is in an area at high risk of contamination | high |
| #Q017 | monitoring | aesthetic | recommended | General Water Quality Testing Recommendation | drinking water | You should also test for general water quality. | | high |
| #Q018 | operational | aesthetic | guidance | Aesthetic Exceedance Permissions | drinking water | If any of these parameters are above their aesthetic or operational objective levels, you may safely continue to drink and use your water. | When aesthetic or operational objective levels are exceeded | high |
| #Q019 | treatment | aesthetic | guidance | Optional Treatment for Aesthetic Issues | drinking water | You may choose to treat your water to prevent common problems such as staining or scaling, or to improve the taste or smell of your water. | To manage aesthetic parameters | high |
| #Q020 | corrective_action | health | recommended | Immediate Action on Guideline Exceedances | drinking water | If there are contaminants in your water above the recommended guideline values, take corrective action as soon as possible. | If there are contaminants in water above the recommended guideline values | high |
| #Q021 | operational | operational | recommended | Annual EHSS Conduct | recreational water | An EHSS should be conducted on an annual basis, just before the start of the swimming season. | Prior to the start of the swimming season | high |
| #Q022 | monitoring | health | guideline | Primary Contact Monitoring Frequency | recreational water | In general, recreational areas used for primary contact activities are monitored for fecal indicators (such as E. coli or enterococci) at a minimum frequency of one sampling event per week during the swimming season. | During the swimming season for primary contact activities | high |
| #Q023 | corrective_action | health | recommended | BAV Exceedance Response | recreational water | If E. coli or enterococci concentrations exceed the established BAVs, this should trigger actions. | Exceedance of established Beach Action Values | high |
| #Q024 | reporting | health | recommended | Cyanobacteria Advisory Issuance | recreational water | A swimming/contact advisory should be issued as a precaution. | Where a planktonic bloom has developed, or the guideline value for total microcystins is exceeded | high |
| #Q025 | reporting | health | recommended | Swimmer's Itch Warning Posting | recreational water | Warning signs should be posted in recreational water areas where cases of swimmer's itch have been reported. | Following reports of cases of cercarial dermatitis | high |
| #Q026 | operational | operational | recommended | Laboratory Sampling Compliance | recreational water | All collection procedures and laboratory analyses should be carried out as directed by the responsible authority. | | high |
| #Q027 | operational | operational | mandatory | Physical Hazard Management | recreational water | Check for hazards in the water and on the beach, remove hazards or post warnings, when required. | | high |
| #Q028 | monitoring | operational | recommended | Monitoring Plan Development | recreational water | Using the data from the EHSS, a well-structured and documented monitoring plan should be developed. | Based on data from the Environmental Health and Safety Survey (EHSS) | high |
| #Q029 | administrative | operational | guidance | Cyanobacteria Management Plan | recreational water | Areas that are at greater risk for cyanobacteria impacts may need a cyanobacteria management plan in place. | Areas identified as high risk for cyanobacteria impacts | high |
| #Q030 | administrative | health | recommended | Fecal Contamination Source Identification | recreational water | Responsible authorities are encouraged to identify the sources of fecal contamination impacting a recreational water area to aid in public health decisions and to inform remediation prioritization to improve water quality. | | high |
| #Q031 | reporting | health | recommended | Cyanobacteria Advisory Duration | recreational water | Once issued, an advisory should remain in place until the associated health risk has returned to an acceptable level. | Following the issuance of a planktonic bloom advisory | high |
| #Q032 | reporting | health | recommended | Benthic Cyanobacteria Advisory | recreational water | In areas where benthic mats can be reached, individuals should be advised to avoid these areas, including keeping pets away from the impacted areas. | In clear shallow areas where benthic mats are accessible | high |
| #Q033 | prohibition | operational | guidance | Aquatic Plant Treatment Guidance | recreational water | Actions that involve trying to remove these organisms from natural waters or to treat them using pesticides may be harmful to the aquatic environment and are discouraged. | Regarding aquatic vascular plants and algae in natural waters | high |
| #Q034 | monitoring | operational | recommended | Specialized Laboratory Requirements for Pathogens | recreational water | If testing is necessary, it should be conducted by qualified staff in laboratories with proper biosafety level, design, equipment, and procedures. | If testing for pathogenic microorganisms is necessary | high |
| #Q035 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Chemical Contaminant Case-by-Case Assessment | recreational water | Assess on a case-by-case basis, taking local factors into account. | Regarding organic and inorganic chemicals in recreational waters | high |
| #Q036 | monitoring | health | recommended | Fecal Indicator Trend Analysis | recreational water | Summarizing fecal indicator data using geometric means is recommended for looking at water quality trends. | When looking at water quality trends | high |
| #Q037 | prohibition | health | recommended | Bloom Avoidance Instruction | recreational water | Primary contact activities in recreational waters should be avoided where a planktonic bloom has developed, or the guideline value for total microcystins is exceeded. | Where a planktonic bloom has developed, or the guideline value for total microcystins is exceeded | high |
| #Q038 | administrative | operational | guidance | Beach User Hygiene and Conduct | recreational water | Beach users can also do their part by properly disposing of litter, using available facilities for hygiene practices, and complying with beach regulations or codes of conduct. | | high |
| #Q039 | administrative | unknown | guidance | Other Hazard Consultation | recreational water | The responsible authority should be contacted for further guidance on these subjects [jellyfish, leech 'bites', sea urchins and mussel shells] where necessary. | Regarding hazards like jellyfish, leech bites, sea urchins and mussel shells | high |
| #Q040 | monitoring | health | guidance | Pathogen Testing Informative Triggers | recreational water | Testing may be carried out if epidemiological or other types of evidence (for example, visible signs of deterioration) suggest that it may be informative. | If epidemiological or other types of evidence suggest that it may be informative | high |
| #Q041 | reporting | reporting | guidance | Public Information Communication Methods | recreational water | Information can be communicated to the public in numerous ways, such as through posted signs, printed materials, or various media sources. | | high |
| #Q042 | administrative | health | guidance | Secondary Contact Guideline Development | recreational water | For recreational water areas that are used solely for secondary contact activities, responsible authorities may choose to develop secondary contact guidelines. | For recreational water areas used solely for secondary contact activities | high |
| #Q043 | administrative | reporting | recommended | Consult Technical Documentation | other | the individual guideline technical documents should be consulted for the most current and complete information. | | high |
| #Q044 | monitoring | operational | recommended | Cyanobacteria Monitoring Integration | recreational water | This monitoring should be included as part of the overall risk management plan for a recreational water area. | | high |
| #Q045 | monitoring | health | recommended | Benthic Cyanobacteria Monitoring | recreational water | Guideline values have not been developed for benthic cyanobacteria; however, monitoring is still recommended. | | high |
| #Q046 | reporting | health | guidance | Seasonal Advisory Guidance | recreational water | In areas with a history of reoccurring blooms, advisories may be left in place for the season once a bloom occurs, particularly if the water conditions change quickly or there are limited resources to conduct frequent inspections. | In areas with a history of reoccurring blooms | high |
| #Q047 | operational | health | recommended | Ultraviolet Radiation and Heat Protection | recreational water | Avoid overexposure to UVR and protect yourself from excessive heat. | Applicable to recreational water users | high |
| #Q048 | operational | health | recommended | Water Temperature Safety Exposure | recreational water | Avoid recreating for time-temperature combinations that appreciably increase or decrease core body temperature. | Exposure to cold water (≤ 15 °C) is potentially life-threatening | high |
| #Q049 | monitoring | health | recommended | Chemical Contaminant Case-by-Case Assessment | recreational water | Assess on a case-by-case basis, taking local factors into account. | Regarding organic and inorganic chemicals in recreational waters | high |
| #Q050 | monitoring | operational | recommended | Monitoring Plan Development | recreational water | Using the data from the EHSS, a well-structured and documented monitoring plan should be developed. | Based on data from the Environmental Health and Safety Survey (EHSS) | high |
| #Q051 | operational | operational | guidance | Shortened EHSS Implementation | recreational water | Shortened surveys may also be carried out throughout the swimming season to help interpret monitoring results. | Throughout the swimming season as needed | high |
| #Q052 | monitoring | operational | guidance | Visual Cyanobacteria Monitoring Methods | recreational water | Visual monitoring of waterbodies can include inspections for surface blooms, jar tests, or Secchi depth measurements. | | high |
| #Q053 | prohibition | operational | guidance | Aquatic Plant Removal Restriction | recreational water | Actions that involve trying to remove these organisms from natural waters or to treat them using pesticides may be harmful to the aquatic environment and are discouraged. | Regarding aquatic vascular plants and algae | high |