Minister releases Drinking Water Safety Report

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Environment has released the annual report on drinking water safety in Newfoundland and Labrador. The report outlines the progress of activities and accomplishments under the multi-barrier strategic action plan for drinking water safety Source to Tap which was launched in 2001.

"The 2002 Drinking Water Safety Report is being mailed to all municipalities, local service districts and other community organizations. Approximately 83 per cent of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are served by a public water system while the remaining 17 per cent rely on their own private well," said Minister Aylward, "With the implementation of a multi-barrier strategic action plan for drinking water safety in May 2001, the number of boil water advisories are being reduced, water supply systems are being operated according to recognized standards, drinking water quality of all public water supplies is being monitored on a routine basis and results are immediately made available to the public. In addition, water supply infrastructure is being improved and water systems operators have free access to training."

Government has made substantial progress in the implementation of the multi-barrier strategic action plan for drinking water safety. This includes the designation of nine new protected water supply areas, investment in various water and sewer projects, expansion of chemical and bacteriological water quality monitoring to cover all public water supplies, improved reporting of drinking water quality data and boil water advisories, trihalomethanes and other drinking water quality issues in a number of communities, and the delivery of operator education and training.

Minister Aylward said: "Ensuring water safety is a collaborative effort of several provincial government departments including the departments of Environment, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, Health and Community Services, and Government Services and Lands. Each department has its own specific responsibilities, and all work together to monitor progress and address challenges. Over the past year, government has focused on strengthening our action plan through the new Water Resources Act, updating standards, providing additional source protection and enhancing resources."

In recent years government has invested millions of dollars to ensure safe, clean and secure drinking water for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador including:

• In 2001-2002, an investment of $1 million to further monitor and protect our drinking water;
• In 2001-2002, $8 million was spent toward improvements to municipal water disinfection systems as part of government�s plan of action on water quality.

While government recognizes that many challenges remain we are committed to ensuring further progress. We are moving forward with the following key investments:

• The Department of Government Services and Lands has provided $458,000 to hire seven environmental health officers to expand bacteriological water quality monitoring.
• The Department of Health and Community Services will spend approximately $500,000 to increase the capacity of the Newfoundland Public Health Laboratory and to develop a health promotion strategy.
• The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs will provide $177 million of municipal infrastructure funding to drinking water and water treatment projects over the next three years. In addition, the department will continue the multi-year disinfection program announced last year. This program provides municipalities currently under boil water advisories access to 100 per cent funding up to a maximum of $100,000 to install water disinfection equipment.
• The Department of Environment has allocated $530,000 for an on-site operator training program.

Minister Aylward said: "The report outlines what we have done and the path forward to continue with the implementation of the multi-barrier strategic action plan to ensure the safety of our drinking water. Water quality is important to the people of our province and government is working to ensure a reliable supply of clean and safe drinking water. This is the first annual report to the users of our drinking water and we will continue to provide data directly to communities and also to the general public on the Department of Environment�s Web site on a regular basis."

The report and a summary brochure may be obtained by visiting the Department of Environment web site www.gov.nl.ca/env/dwsreport or by contacting the Water Resources Division of the Department of Environment, (709) 729-2563.

NOTE TO EDITORS: At 2:00 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, September 19) Minister Aylward will be available in the Minister�s Boardroom, 4th Floor, West Block, Confederation Building, to all media wishing to discuss the contents of the report.

Media contact: Cynthia Layden-Barron, Communications, (709) 729-2575.

2002 09 18                                        4:10 p.m.