Operation of Small Drinking Water Systems Information

In Ontario, legislation and regulations are important for protecting the safety of drinking water because they outline who is responsible for each aspect of a drinking water system and their specific responsibilities.

Ontario Regulation 170/03 known as (Drinking Water Systems Regulation) made under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), sets requirements for owners of the following drinking water system categories to ensure that all adjustments or operational checks of the drinking water system equipment are performed by “trained persons”:
  • Small non-municipal non-residential systems serving a designated facility
  • Small municipal non-residential systems serving a designated facility
  • Non-municipal seasonal residential systems serving a designated facility

The Walkerton Clean Water Centre is the course administrator for the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Operation of Small Drinking Water Systems Course.

The main purpose of the course is to help the trained person understand the basic concepts related to the operation and maintenance of small drinking water systems. The information covered in this course refers to the most common techniques used in Ontario.

  • Click here to register for the online course
  • Click here to register for the correspondence course
  • Click here to access the online course materials (You must be registered for the course)

    • To inquire about the classroom course contact the Centre by email, or by calling 1-866-515-0550.

    Upon completion of the course, (classroom, correspondence or online) and if the participant is successful in passing the test, a Certificate of Completion is issued by the course administrator, which qualifies the participant as a “trained person” under O. Reg. 170/03 to operate, maintain and take water samples from the above mentioned water systems. 

    In addition, this course is a requirement for persons wishing to obtain a Limited System Certificate under O. Reg. 128/04 (Certification of Drinking Water System Operators and Water Quality Analysts). A Limited System Certificate is required by operators of the following system categories:

    • Small municipal residential systems (groundwater sources only)
    • Non-municipal year-round residential systems
    • Large municipal non-residential systems serving designated facilities
    • Large non-municipal non-residential systems serving designated facilities

    Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change information page for non-municipal owners/operators

    IMPORTANT NOTICE: Completion of the Operation of Small Drinking Water Systems Course