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New Drinking Water Regulation Comes Into Effect
For Release #07-186
September 12, 2007
WHITEHORSE – Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers announced today that the Yukon government has approved a new regulation for large public drinking water systems and bulk water delivery.
The regulation adopted a source-to-tap approach to drinking water quality. It covers water source protection, drinking water system designs, and maintenance, treatment, water sampling, operator training, emergency response and contingency planning, among other things.
"The regulation is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure safe drinking water throughout Yukon," Cathers said. "Our first step was to look at the large public distribution systems and the bulk delivery of drinking water."
In a comprehensive consultation, departmental officials met with owners and operators of large public drinking water systems and commercial bulk water deliverers to obtain their input. As a result, the draft guidelines were revised to incorporate the views and recommendations of owner/operators. There are 16 large public drinking water systems throughout Yukon, ranging from ones serving smaller communities like Carcross to the drinking water system in Whitehorse.
"Staff from Environmental Health Services will work with owner/operators to help them meet the requirements of the new regulation," Cathers said. "Many owner/operators are already implementing the provisions of the regulation."