Moving Towards Safe Drinking Water
Water…in Collaboration with First Nations
INDIGENOUS WATER FORUM
October 27, 2016
Who am I?
• Tim Bonish
• Regional Manager, Environmental Public Health Services
• Over 30 years of experience working with First Nations
– Nearly all here in Saskatchewan
• Actively involved with the transfer of EHO services to:
BRT6HC, MLTC, PAGC, STCHFS & FHQTC
• Significant improvements in water & sewer services over the
years…still many challenges
• Significant improvements in the monitoring of water systems
Overview
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Roles and Responsibilities
Health Canada’s Role in Saskatchewan
Public Health Oversight…Now
Public Health Oversight…Looking Forward
Regulatory Development
Points to Ponder
Budget 2016
Conclusion
1. Roles & Responsibilities…Chiefs & Councils
• Own, manage and operate community water and wastewater
systems
• Monitor water and wastewater systems
• Design and construct facilities in accordance with established
standards
• Issue Drinking Water Advisories, typically on the recommendation
of an EHO or on their own assessment
1. Roles & Responsibilities…INAC
• Provides funding and advice regarding design, construction,
operation and maintenance of community water and wastewater
systems
• Reviews designs with Health Canada and Environment Canada
• Sets standards through protocols
• Funds training/support for First Nations staff
– Circuit Rider Program…started in Saskatchewan…now a national program
1. Roles & Responsibilities…Health Canada
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Ensures monitoring programs for are in place
Identifies potential drinking water quality problems
Provides recommendations on drinking water safety
Reviews community projects proposals from a public health
perspective
• An ADVSIORY service only…no legislative authority
• Services provided in collaboration with First Nation
2. Health Canada’s Water Monitoring Role (Saskatchewan)
Fund the..
• Weekly monitoring of distribution systems
– Collection and analysis of samples for coliforms or E. coli (Bacteriological
Monitoring)
– Testing of Total and Free Chlorine residuals in the distribution systems
• Bacteriological Monitoring of Wells & Cisterns
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Cisterns…every three months
Wells…twice a year
Public Buildings…more frequently
Unless in disrepair or require maintenance
• Health Funding Arrangements with: individual First Nations or
Tribal Councils or incorporated First Nation health services
2. Health Canada’s Water Monitoring Role (Saskatchewan)
• Chemical Monitoring Program
– Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ)
Community Systems – Routine Monitoring
• Distribution System
– Every 12 months…recommend every 9 months
– Every three months for THMs and HAAs
• Source Water
– At the same time as the distribution system sampling
2. Health Canada’s Water Monitoring Role (Saskatchewan)
Chemical Monitoring Program
Community Systems – Baseline Survey
• Testing of distribution system for nearly all GCDWQ parameters
– Includes scans for pesticides and radionuclides
• FSIN manages Survey
– Uses a different accredited laboratory than used in Routine monitoring
– 2006…2010…2016
• Surveys found:
– No evidence of pesticides or the organic chemicals
– No exceedances of radionuclides
– Any exceedances of GDCWQ levels…already identified in Routine
monitoring
2. Health Canada’s Water Monitoring Role (Saskatchewan)
Individual Wells…in collaboration with First Nations & others
• Routine parameters: every 2 to 4 years
• Will do special investigations
In general…
• Some wells produce good water
• Many have elevated levels of Hardness, Iron, Manganese, Sulfates,
TDS…things that make the taste and/or smell bad, may stain laundry
and plumbing fixtures
• Some have elevated levels of Arsenic, Nitrates, Selenium and
Uranium…”Do Not Consume Advisories”
2. Health Canada’s Water Monitoring Role (Saskatchewan)
Chemical monitoring is done by:
• EHOs w/BRT6HC, FHQTC, MLTC, PAGC STCHFS & HC
• Water Monitors with some Tribal Councils or First Nation Health
Services
• Circuit Riders or Water Treatment Plant Operators
Annual Lab Analysis Costs:
• $150k to $300k
2. Health Canada’s Water Monitoring Role (Saskatchewan)
Investigations…Collaboration
When First Nation, partner or EHO identifies a water quality
concern…Health Canada works with the First Nation and partners to
investigate
• Additional Sampling
– After each treatment process step or train
– More frequent sampling…to characterize a water quality issue
• Spill Response
– Chemical spills
– Oil spills…Husky Energy Spill into the North Saskatchewan River 2016
• Additional testing of drinking water supplies
3. Public Health Oversight…Now
Enforcement?
• Quasi-regulation through administrative arrangements
– Vague?
– Awareness of requirements varies widely
– Enforcement options…withhold funding?
• Even with the multiple players, overlapping and confusing
mandates…it works…but can and should be improved.
4. Public Health Oversight…Looking Forward
• One agency to set standards for the construction and operation of
community water and wastewater systems
• The agency should be responsible for the oversight of community
water systems…from Source to Tap.
• The agency probably shouldn’t fund what it oversees
Benefits
• Better defined roles and responsibilities
• Clear design, construction and operational expectations
• Clear lines of communication
5. Regulatory Development
• Bill S-8…“Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act”
• Previous government was developing regulations
• With the new government…
– Commitment to build relationships and work in partnership
– Working towards consultation on the development of regulations
• AFN resolution to scrap Bill S-8
• While this political discussions are going, we still need to work
together to make sure water is safe to drink
6. Points to Ponder
• Allocation of capital funding?
– Under most regulatory regimes the water system operator is responsible for
raising the capital to build or upgrade systems
– On reserves it’s through INAC’s long term capital plan
• What systems should be covered?
– those built under INAC’s LTCP?
– Resorts and other economic development initiatives?
• Systems shared by on Reserve and off Reserve communities?
– Jurisdiction? Provincial role?
6. Points to Ponder
• Cisterns & Individual Wells?
• Cross Connection Prevention? Plumbing inspections?
– Houses connected to community water system and a well or a cistern
6. Points to Ponder
• Individual Onsite Sewage Disposal?
– Who provides oversight? Cost to construct?
– More stringent requirements…different approaches?
• Public Reporting?
– Public reporting on public systems protects public health
– Province post Drinking Water Advisories at www.SaskH2o.ca
• Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines? Or different
guidelines/standards?
• Liabilities
– Proper plant operation, record keeping, testing and reporting limits liability
7. Budget 2016
Significant funding increases…
INAC
• $1.8 billion over five years for community water and wastewater
• $416 million over two years for housing
• $409 million over five years for solid waste management
Health Canada
• $141.7M over five years for Water Monitoring
8. Conclusion…
• Things are changing…
• The relationship between First Nations and the government are
evolving
– Future changes to the program will likely reflect the new relationship
• Until there is clear direction from the politicians we’ll continue to
work together to solve drinking water issues
– Continuation of monitoring programs
• Only by working together can we protect public health
Questions?
Contact Info
Tim Bonish
Regional Manager
Environmental Public Health Services
Health Protection Division
Saskatchewan Region
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 306-780-5434