Released on December 10, 2002
The province has introduced new regulations that will go a long way tomaking sure Saskatchewan people have safe drinking water, and water and
wastewater systems that are well managed.
"Accountability, transparency and understanding are the cornerstones of our
new direction," Environment Minister Buckley Belanger said. "That means
those who own the water treatment systems have to be accountable to their
residents."
The new regulations mean owners will now be required to report to their
customers on the quality of their water and their compliance with sample
submission requirements. Saskatchewan Environment will also be doing more
testing and inspection of all municipal and larger private water systems.
The new requirements, which can be found in "The Water Regulations,
(2002)", also include improved monitoring, better operator training and
stricter operational requirements for water and wastewater treatment
plants. In conjunction with the new regulations, Saskatchewan Environment
staff will carry out more inspections and have an expanded set of
enforcement options which will be valuable in ensuring that the public has
safe drinking water and a safe wastewater system.
Saskatchewan Environment's regional staff and members of the new Drinking
Water Quality Section will be responsible for co-ordinating and managing
the overall drinking water and wastewater activities of the department.
Source water protection-related responsibilities will be handled by the
recently created Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. Its job is to work co-
operatively with users of water and land that impact water quality and
balance these competing interests.
"I believe that perhaps the most important thing we must remember is that
we cannot take safe water for granted. Each and every one of us has a
responsibility to help keep it safe," Belanger said. "People need to
understand the importance of good clean source water and the role their
local water treatment system plays in bringing clean water to their taps."
These changes are part of the government's Long Term Safe Drinking Water
Strategic Plan. They are in response to the North Battleford Commission of
Inquiry and a review of the province's drinking water program that started
in the spring of 2001.
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For more information contact:
Sam Ferris
Environment
Associate Director Drinking Water Quality Section
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-6193