Development of Source and Treated Water Quality Indicators for drinking water in Canada from conceptual design to methodological development

Abstract

In September 2005, Health Canada took on the development of a Source Water Quality Indicator for Canada. The main objective was to develop a methodology by which source water quality could be linked to public health, the environment, society, and economy; and measured, tracked, and reported in the form of an indicator for decision making. A Treated Water Quality Indicator was also introduced to bridge the gap between source water quality and human health. With Federal/Provincial/Territorial and academic support, research into the approach and development of a conceptual design, parameter selection rationale, and two tools for the indicator calculations, along with recommendations for future work were completed. The tools developed included a modified Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment water quality index calculator, and a Treatability Ranking tool (that determined the complexity of treatment required to achieve safe drinking water). The results of this project are described herein.