Looking beyond current requirements
The Drinking Water Surveillance Program (DWSP) is a voluntary water-quality monitoring program -- operated in cooperation with participating municipalities -- that helps the ministry continue to ensure safe drinking water for all Ontarians. The program focuses largely on monitoring:
- chemicals and radionuclides that are not currently regulated
- emerging contaminants
Municipal drinking water systems in Ontario are regulated by the Drinking Water Systems Regulation (Reg. 170/03) which sets monitoring requirements for more than 70 parameters. But as scientific advances identify more health impacts of chemicals and radionuclides, standards and guidelines must be developed or reassessed. DWSP data contributes to this important government role.
Sampling for scientific research
DWSP is Ontario's main scientific monitoring program for drinking water quality with a particular focus on non-regulated parameters and emerging contaminants.
DWSP samples are taken in addition to those that are legally required by Reg. 170/03. Samples are analyzed at the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Labour laboratories in Toronto.
