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Food Protection Programs
Environmental Health Protection
Drinking Water Program  
Septic System Program  
Personal Services Establishment Guidelines  
Water-Related Health Files  
Related Drinking Water Publications  

Other Links
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Water Resource Information  
Water Use Planning In BC  
Community Watersheds  
Bill 20, Drinking Water Protection Act  
Safe Drinking Water Regulation (Health Act)  
Sanitary Regulations (Health Act)  
Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality  
Questions and Answers on Bottled Water (Health Canada)  
 

Drinking Water Program

Drinking Water Protection Plan

A safe and dependable supply of drinking water is critical to the health of all British Columbians, now and into the future. To deliver on its commitment to protect drinking water, the provincial government has consulted across jurisdictions and ministries to establish a comprehensive framework for the protection of drinking water. Consultations with the interested public, water quality experts, and the managers of water supply and sources ensure the continued integrity of the province's network of private and public systems.

Consideration of the foregoing forms the basis of a drinking water action plan for the province. British Columbia's Drinking Water Action Plan will ensure that:

  • leadership and accountability exist in the drinking water system;

  • drinking water is protected from source-to-tap in the most effective manner possible;

  • small drinking water systems have adequate checks and balances to ensure on-going quality and supply; and,

  • the overall system produces safe and affordable drinking water.

British Columbia is committed to improving and protecting the province's drinking water system.

Opinion-Editorial: Safe Drinking Water Vital for B.C. Communities (June 21, 2002)
News Release: New Action Plan to Deliver Safer Drinking Water (June 19, 2002)
Backgrounder: Ensuring Safe Drinking Water
(June 19, 2002)
Action Plan: Action Plan for Safe Drinking Water in British Columbia (2002)
Transcript: Open Cabinet Meeting
(June 19, 2002)
Presentation to Cabinet: Action Plan for Safe Drinking Water in B.C.
(June 19, 2002) (PDF 23K)
Cabinet Submission: Safe Drinking Water
(June 19, 2002) (PDF 60K)
News Release: Drinking Water Review Panel Releases Final Report (February 13, 2002)(PDF 23K)
Backgrounder (PDF 40K)
News Release: Drinking Water Legislation to Be Reviewed (September 25, 2001; Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection)

The lessons of other provinces and the recommendations of recent, independent reviews are also key considerations for safeguarding water quality and strengthening protection measures. Recent reviews include the:

Further Information:

Ministry of Health Planning Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
Email: Public Health Protection Email: Drinking Water Protection Plan
Phone: (250) 952-1469 Phone: (250) 387-9932
Fax: (250) 952-1486 Fax: (250) 356-7197


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Water-Related Health Files

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Related Drinking Water Publications

Provincial Health Officer's Annual Report - 2000 (*PDF 1.3Mb)

Most of the time, British Columbia's drinking water at the tap is safe to drink. Thus, many of us take safe drinking water for granted. This report explores drinking water issues - from the water's source to the consumer's tap. Waterborne illness has been and continues to be a serious public health concern in British Columbia, affecting the health of the population and the economy.

Safe Water Supply Vital to Your Health (*PDF 229Kb)

This publication covers choosing a water source, groundwater systems, surface water systems, testing water, solving water quality problems.

Emergency Response Planning for Small Waterworks Systems (*PDF 310Kb)

The Safe Drinking Water Regulation of the Health Act requires all purveyors of small water systems to have an emergency response plan they can refer to in case of an emergency which might present a threat to the health of people drawing their water from that system. This booklet will assist operators of small waterworks systems to develop their own emergency response plan to help them protect their water system users under emergency conditions.

Well Protection Toolkit

The Well Protection Toolkit is a joint production of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. The toolkit has been written for specific application in British Columbia and incorporates information about our laws and resources available through various British Columbia agencies. The toolkit is designed to walk small communities through a six step process to develop, implement and monitor a well protection plan. Although the toolkit is intended for communities with well supplies, much of the information will be useful for individuals or for people developing watershed protection programs.

Construction and Maintenance of Private Wells (*PDF 28Kb)

This pamphlet is intended to provide homeowners with guidelines for constructing and maintaining a private well.

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PDF Format

Some documents on this Web site are in PDF format and require a PDF reader. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 4.0 or higher or the most recent version of another PDF reader, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader by selecting the 'Get Acrobat Reader' icon. Get Acrobat Reader Icon

Last Revised: November 26, 2002

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