Our drinking water is among the best anywhere
Ontarians can continue to have confidence in the high quality of their drinking water. The seventh Chief Drinking Water Inspector’s annual report shows Ontario’s drinking water is among the best protected in the world.
The report provides an overview of the state of Ontario’s drinking water including quality tests and inspections from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011.
Highlights of the 2010-2011 report include:
- 99.87 per cent of the samples from municipal residential drinking water systems met Ontario’s strict drinking water standards.
- 65 per cent of municipal residential drinking water systems achieved 100 per cent compliance in inspection ratings, a six per cent increase since the last reporting year. The remaining 35 per cent of systems achieved inspection ratings between 80 and 99.99 per cent.
Safe, clean drinking water is vital to our well-being and is good for Ontario’s economy. Ontario is a recognized leader in ensuring drinking water safety, through strict standards for drinking water quality and owners and operators of drinking water systems. Ontario received an ‘A’ rating — the highest in Canada — in Ecojustice’s Waterproof 3 report in November 2011.
Ontario is also committed to protecting drinking water sources. Our Great Lakes are at the centre of our economy and quality of life and provide drinking water for more than 80 per cent of Ontarians. Source protection planning is one example of actions that Great Lakes communities are taking to ensure the lakes stay drinkable, swimmable, and fishable.
