Guidance For Providing Safe Drinking Water in Areas of Federal Jurisdiction - Version 1

Glossary

For the sake of clarity, key terms have been defined in the glossary specifically for the purpose of this document, and may differ slightly from standard dictionary definitions.

Aesthetic Objective (AO)

Aesthetic objectives address parameters which may affect consumer acceptance of the water even though the substance in question is found at concentrations below which health effects appear. These parameters generally affect characteristics such as taste, odour and colour.⁽¹⁵⁾

Aquifer

A geological formation of permeable rock, sand, or gravel that conducts groundwater and yields significant quantities of water to springs and wells.⁽²¹⁾

Baseline Chemical Analysis

Analysis of all Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for chemical parameters (including initial screening for radiological parameters) with Maximum Acceptable Concentrations (MACs). As part of this analysis, departments may choose to look at aesthetic parameters and operational guidance values as well. (See also Sanitary Survey, Vulnerabilities Assessment, and Monitoring Program).

Biofilm

A community of microorganisms attached to a solid surface, for example the inside wall of a pipe, in an aquatic environment.

Boil Water Advisory

For the purpose of this document, the use of the term 'boil water advisory' is taken to mean advice given to the public by the responsible authority to boil their water, regardless of whether this advice is precautionary or in response to an outbreak. (See Appendix 7 for guidance regarding boil water advisories). Depending on the jurisdiction, the use of this term may vary. As well, the term 'boil water order' may be used in place of, or in conjunction with "boil water advisory."

Cistern

A small, covered tank, usually placed underground, in which potable water is stored for household purposes.⁽³⁾

Distribution system

A network of pipes leading from a well or treatment system to consumers' plumbing systems.

Drinking Water

See "potable water."

Drinking water system

All aspects from the point of collection of water to the consumer (can include groundwater supplies, surface waters, storage reservoirs and supply systems, intakes, treatment systems, service reservoirs, distribution systems and plumbing).

For the purpose of this document, drinking water systems have been broken down into the following categories:

• Large system: serves more than 5000 people
• Small system: serves between 500 and 5000 people
• Very small system: serves fewer than 500 people

Drinking water systems serving less than 50 people are also included in the "very small system" category if they are owned or leased by the federal government such as those serving:

1. federal employees in federal facilities;
2. federal employees (and their family / visitors) living in residences provided by the federal government as a condition of employment;
3. members of the Canadian Forces;
4. inmates of federal correctional facilities; and,
5. visitors to federal facilities.

Due diligence

Due diligence is the measure of prudence, activity or assiduity that is properly to be expected from, and ordinarily exercised by, a reasonable and prudent person under the particular circumstances. ⁽⁵³⁾

Employer

An employer is a person who employs one or more persons (and includes an employers' organization and any person who acts on behalf of an employer). In the context of the drinking water program, the term "employer" covers each department and all levels of management.

Federal facility

Any federal infrastructure that provides access to a drinking water supply. This includes, but is not limited to, federal buildings, and hand pumps designed to provide drinking water, whether freestanding or not.

Federal Jurisdiction

A government's general power to exercise authority over all persons and things within its territory ⁽²⁵⁾. For the purposes of this document, unless the context indicates otherwise, "federal jurisdiction" refers only to those elements of federal jurisdiction mentioned in the Preface.

Good Manufacturing Practices

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) relate to quality assurance programs that a manufacturer would establish to ensure that its products are consistently produced to the safety and quality standards appropriate to their intended use. They are conditions specific to the product being manufactured. In the case of bottled water, the Canadian Food Inspection System Implementation Group has developed a code of hygienic practice (Code of Hygienic Practice for Commercial Prepackaged and Non-Prepackaged Water) which provides guidance on what could be considered GMP for bottlers of water. The document is available at:
http://www.cfis.agr.ca/english/regcode/bw/bwcode_e.shtml

Groundwater

The water found in underground aquifers which supplies wells and springs.⁽²¹⁾ For the purpose of this document, groundwater refers to groundwater sources that are NOT under the direct influence of surface water.

Groundwater under the direct influence of surface water (GUDI)

Any water beneath the surface of the ground with (i) significant occurrence of insects or other microorganisms, algae, organic debris, or large-diameter pathogens such as Giardia lamblia or Cryptosporidium, or (ii) significant and relatively rapid shifts in water characteristics such as turbidity, temperature, conductivity, or pH which closely correlate to climatological or surface water conditions.

Guideline

For the purpose of this document and unless specified otherwise, the term guideline refers to the most recent version of the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. These guidelines set out the basic parameters that every water system should strive to achieve in order to provide the cleanest, safest and most reliable drinking water possible. They are established by the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water (see Section 2.1 of this document for more details).

Large drinking water system

See "drinking water system."

Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC)

Maximum acceptable concentrations are the health-based limits for drinking water contaminants established in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. They are designed to protect human health, incorporating safety factors and assuming exposure over a lifetime.

Monitoring program

A list of substances that should be routinely monitored. A sanitary survey, in combination with a vulnerabilities assessment and baseline chemical analysis, will provide the information required to develop an appropriate monitoring program and treatment regime. (See also Sanitary survey, Vulnerabilities Assessment and Baseline chemical analysis).

Operator training classification

Definitions of Class I to IV and including certification for "very small systems," based on the ABC certification structure and guidelines (See Section 7.2).

Plumbing

A building's distributing pipes for bringing in the water supply and removing liquid and waterborne wastes. It includes pipes, fixtures and other apparatuses, soil, waste and vent pipes, along with connections within and adjacent to the building.

Potable water

Water that is safe and satisfactory for drinking and food preparation (Synonym: drinking water)

Quality management

The consistent and effective management and operation of all the components of the drinking water system, from source to tap. In order to achieve quality management, verification tools and procedures must be in place, such as monitoring, record-keeping, and evaluation processes such as third-party auditing. In this document, quality management focusses on intake to tap.

Reservoir

An impounded body of water or controlled lake in which water can be collected and stored.⁽³⁾

Sanitary survey

An on-site review, from intake to tap, of a water utility's raw water quality, facilities, equipment, operations, and maintenance records for the purpose of evaluating the utility's ability to adequately treat source water in order to produce and deliver safe drinking water. The sanitary survey will vary depending upon the type and complexity of the system. A sanitary survey, in combination with a vulnerabilities assessment and baseline chemical analysis, will provide the information required to develop an appropriate monitoring program and treatment regime. (See also Vulnerabilities Assessment, Baseline Chemical Analysis, and Monitoring Program).

Shock Chlorination

The addition of a strong solution of liquid chlorine into a drinking water system to reduce the presence of microbiological contaminants.

Small drinking water system

See "drinking water system."

Surface water

Surface water is i) any water body on the land surface, including running water such as streams, rivers and brooks, or quiescent water such as lakes, reservoirs and ponds. ii) water open to the atmosphere and subject to surface run-off.

Treated Water Reservoir

An enclosed storage facility/structure intended to hold finished (post-treatment) water before it is distributed to consumers.

Unique facility/situation

Unique facilities exist, or situations may arise, that require special attention in order to protect public health. Examples of unique facilities/situations include:

• Canadian embassies overseas with water systems that have difficulty meeting Canadian standards of sampling, testing, operator certification, availability of regular training for operators, etc.
• Remote locations within Canada
• Seasonal facilities
• Water systems used for one-time large group events
• Special dedicated-use bottling plants (e.g., Canadian Forces overseas)
• Large scale domestic humanitarian deployments
• Emergencies

Very small system

See "drinking water system."

Vulnerabilities assessment

A comprehensive assessment of the vulnerability of the source water in the environment. It includes three elements:

• Delineation of watersheds, aquifers and their protection areas;
• Identification of hazards, including contaminants of concern and their sources (where possible to determine)
• Assessment of susceptibility to contamination, and ranking of the hazards
  See Section 3 for details. See also Sanitary Survey, Baseline Chemical Analysis, and Monitoring Program.

Watershed

The area draining naturally from a system of watercourses and leading to one body of water.