Types of permits
Providing drinking water to consumers may require a valid permit or approval.
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Drinking Water Providers & Operators
Get information about the permits or approvals required to provide drinking water to consumers. Learn about actions to take against watershed threats.
New Drinking Water Source Assessment (for new or existing systems)
New drinking water sources need to be assessed to identify and avoid potential contamination. Information collected is essential for supporting source protection efforts and proper treatment system design and operation.
Review the following information before starting your assessment application:
- New Drinking Water Source Guidelines
- Evaluation of Surface Water Guidelines
- Evaluation of Groundwater Sources Guidelines
- Parameter List for New Drinking Water Sources
- Water System Approval Process for Small Business Owners
- FAQ: Water System Approvals for Small Business Owners
Complete the Request for New Drinking Water Source form. Contact an environmental health officer (EHO) with any questions.
An EHO will evaluate your new drinking water source(s) information and provide recommendations to you. Once you have received your recommendations, proceed with the Waterworks Construction Permit Application.
Waterworks Construction Permit
Construction permits are required by the Drinking Water Protection Act and must be obtained before the construction, installation, alteration or extension of a water supply system.
Review the following information prior to starting your application:
- Application for Waterworks Construction Permit
- Guidelines for the Construction of Waterworks
- Construction permits Q&A
- Water System Approval Process for Small Business Owners
- FAQ: Water System Approvals for Small Business Owners
Complete the Application for Waterworks Construction Permit and email the form to Engineering Direct. If you have any questions, please contact Engineering Direct toll-free at 1-855-743-3550 or by email.
Additional requirements:
- Cover letter
- Digital copy of all documents and drawings (PDF format is acceptable)
- Specifications
- Professional reports
- Sample results
Operating Permit
An operating permit is required for community drinking water supply.
Once a public health engineer has issued your construction permit, your file will be forwarded to an environmental health officer to begin the operating permit approval process. Complete the Application for a Permit to Operate a Water Supply System and contact an environmental health officer.
Emergency information
Any water systems that experience disruption to regular operations, such as loss of treatment, loss of pressure, loss of power, loss of source or loss of system integrity should implement their emergency response procedures immediately.
This includes issuing public notifications such as boil water notices, water quality advisories or do not use orders, as appropriate. Prior to resuming normal operations, water suppliers should undertake remedial actions such as flushing, disinfection and resampling as required.
More information is available to assist operators address, remediate and manage operations to ensure public health safety, during and after flood/landslide, power loss or wildfire events.
Emergency Response Plans
Drinking water operators should have emergency preparedness plans drafted as part of their regulatory requirements. For specific information on preparedness planning, please consult with your environmental health officer.
- Emergency Response and Contingency Planning for Small Water Systems: A step-by-step guide to creating an emergency response and contingency plan for small water systems
- Emergency Response and Contingency Plan Template: Template to help identify key information and to serve as a starting point for preparing an emergency response and contingency response plan
Source protection
The watersheds of the Southern Interior are where we live, work, and play. They are also the source of the water we drink. Threats posed by activities in our watersheds need to be identified and managed.
Collecting information
Selection and protection of a high quality water source is the first and most important step in ensuring clean, safe, and reliable drinking water. Water suppliers need to understand where their water comes from, the factors effecting the amount and quality of the water entering their system, and how to manage threats to their source.
Learn about the steps water suppliers take to assess and protect drinking water supplies.
Land-use practices
Resource extraction (e.g. mining, logging), farming, construction, recreation and waste disposal all pose a threat to watersheds. We all need to follow land-use regulations and best practices to avoid creating drinking water health hazards.
Learn about land-use regulations that protect watersheds and water quality.
Additional resources
- Fraser Basin Council
- Columbia Basin Trust
- Okanagan Water Basin Board
- Ministry of Health - Drinking Water Quality
- Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries
- Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
- Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations
- Canadian Council of the Ministers of the Environment
- Health Canada – Water Quality
Resources & training
Testing
Community system water samples are collected by the owner of the system or other suitably trained personnel and submitted for bacteriological testing. Chemical water sample results are not available at this time.
Public Notification Templates for Operators
Peer-to-Peer Training Workshops
For upcoming peer-to-peer courses offered by Interior Health Authority, please refer to the British Columbia Small Water Systems Online Help Centre.
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