Development and implementation of Water Safety Plans in Canadian water systems

Abstract

Current, persistent water quality and quantity concerns in small, rural, Northern and Indigenous water systems in Canada necessitate a change in water management strategies. Analysis of drinking water advisories across water systems reveals the predominance of operational concerns in water systems that are not addressed by the current regulatory structure mandating water quality sampling. Regionalized water governance and fragmented policy making do not account for all stakeholders in a water system and do not contribute to consumer confidence in the provision of safe water in Canadian water systems. This situation is exacerbated in small and geographically remote communities with limited access to the resources or the capacity to adequately address operational and water quality concerns. Focus needs to be placed on improving management of water systems to improve not only capacity to meet water quality guidelines, but to solve operational concerns through a more proactive strategy. This dissertation examines the applicability of the water safety planning approach, a proactive risk management strategy, to water systems in Canada. Implementation and adoption of water safety plans relies heavily on water system environment: the attitudes and preconceived ideas about water safety through which stakeholders evaluate new management tools. This research focuses on understanding factors that form barriers to water safety planning implementation in both municipal and First Nation water systems. This research begins with a review of water safety planning literature and the drinking water advisory as the current water safety tool in Canada. Based on the benefits and challenges identified in this method, a water safety plan tool was developed specifically for this thesis and tested by consulting water system stakeholders. This tool was reviewed by both municipal and First Nation water systems. Additionally, focus was placed on determining strategies for presenting the information generated through the water safety planning process and examining strategies for adding water quality data to the water safety plan. The water safety plan tool shows promise as a management method for water systems, but successful and sustainable implementation will require a shift in water system culture from reactive water quality monitoring to proactive operational practices.