Auditor General issued scathing report on Manitoba’s drinking water

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Auditor General issued scathing report on Manitoba’s drinking water

September 28, 2020

Manitoba’s Auditor General has issued a scathing report on the state of the provincial drinking water systems.

The report is based on an audit of water systems in Manitoba licensed through the department of Conservation and Climate. The report identified an number of issues and found that the department did not adequately address safety risks in the process of licensing and monitoring drinking water systems.

“The people and organizations that supply drinking water to Manitobans must ensure that water is safe to drink,” Auditor General Tyson Shtykalo said. “While Manitoba has not had any major outbreaks of waterborne diseases recently, the Department needs to remain vigilant and do more to minimize the risk of problems in the future.”

The audit found that 20 per cent of water systems in Manitoba did not have an operating licence. These licences are required and outlines not only what an operator must do to meet regulatory requirements including water quality standards and testing frequency. The audit uncovered that most of the unlicensed operators were not testing at the expected frequency.

The auditor also found that about 50 per cent of the water systems in the province did not have a certified operator.

Although the number of water systems licensed by the province nearly doubled since 2015 the number of staff involved to license and monitor the systems has gone down.

Shtykalo also said that the department did not have a clear plan to address the many safety risks associated with drinking water.

“Given the limited resources available, and increasing workload, it is important that the Department carefully plan how to address the issues noted in this report,” Shtykalo said.

The are 18 recommendations that have been forwarded to the department.

The recommendations are:

the Department work with the Department of Health, Seniors and Active Living to implement policies for unique water systems (for example non-consumptive and non- potable systems). Once finalized, all water systems meeting the criteria for these unique water systems should be appropriately dealt with, and applicable requirements enforced.
the Department take steps to license unlicensed water systems and those operating with an expired licence as quickly as possible, and in the interim, all unlicensed systems should be given documented instructions for any treatment and testing required.
the Department develop information-sharing mechanisms with other parts of government to help identify unlicensed water systems.
the Department periodically review and revise the Drinking Water Quality Standards Regulation to ensure standards are updated to reflect the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water relevant to Manitoba.
the Province require all schools and childcare centres to promptly, and periodically thereafter, test for lead, and that the Department publicly report the results of these tests and corrective actions taken.
the Department develop a process, preferably using an improved IT system, to track and follow up on missed tests, and adverse test results.
the Department implement a risk-based approach, considering an individual water system’s risks, for setting the priority and frequency of inspections of water systems.
the Department develop a more thorough inspection process that includes updated guidance for following up items of non-compliance and Supervisory review of inspection results and follow-up actions taken.
the Department require all non-compliant water systems to develop plans, with timelines, for how they will come into compliance with all requirements. Where non- compliance persists, enforcement actions should be taken.
the Department collaborate with the Department of Economic Development and Training to adequately train and support water system operators in smaller communities, in particular those owned by the Department of Indigenous and Northern Relations.
the Department use its enforcement activities when there is continued non-compliance or serious violations by any water system (including those owned by other government departments).
the Department use one database for water system and certified operator data. In the absence of this, we recommend that the Department regularly reconcile water system data to identify water systems without certified operators, and take steps to enforce compliance when necessary.
the Department review, and adjust as necessary, operator certification requirements to ensure they are appropriate for the size and complexity of the water system. The Department should then develop and implement a plan, including a timeline, for having alloperators, including those operating ‘very small systems’, properly trained and certified.
the Department enhance the publicly available information on drinking water safety to include data on individual water system compliance with key drinking water safety and quality standards.
the Department implement an IT system that would enable case management and better automation and tracking of water system reporting, allowing for efficient and effective management reporting.
the Department review existing policies and guidance and take steps to compile and maintain one complete policy manual, clarify which policies are in effect and eliminate conflicting guidance.
the Department develop a strategic plan for its oversight of drinking water safety that includes measurable targets and timelines. The Department should report publicly on progress towards meeting its objectives.
the Department, in developing its strategic plan for the oversight of drinking water safety, develop strategies and set targets for reducing long-term drinking water advisories.