More information on hazard ratings.
Inspection Information:
| Facility Type: | WS1A |
| Inspection type: | Routine |
| Inspection date: | September 12, 2019 |
| Follow-up Required: | No |
This facility was given a moderate hazard rating.
More information on hazard ratings.
Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.
| Code | Description / Observation / Corrective Action |
| 313 | Inadequate treatment Observation: Provincial surface water treatment objectives are not being met. The present water treatment cannot achieve 3-log reduction or inactivation of Cryptosporidium (although disinfection to inactivate Giardia is being performed). Additionally, there is currently only one treatment process (chlorination), and two independent treatment processes are required for treating surface water sources. Monitoring data also shows that turbidity sometimes exceeds the objective of one nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) or less. A timeframe for designing and installing adequate treatment has been developed and has been made into a mandatory condition of the water system’s operating permit. The water supplier (The City of Prince Rupert) has been adhering to this timeline. A water treatment feasibility study was completed and submitted to Northern Health in September 2019. The water supplier has also applied for, and been awarded, grants to fund the construction of a new water treatment facility. Corrective Action: The water supplier must continue to disinfect the source water to achieve a 3-log inactivation of Giardia, and must monitor the source water for Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts at the frequency specified in the relevant operating permit condition. The water supplier will also need to design and implement effective water treatment that meets provincial surface water treatment objectives in accordance with the timeline in the operating permit conditions. |
| 313 | Inadequate treatment Observation: Water chemistry data indicates that the water is corrosive, and so on private properties that have older plumbing components, leaching of lead and/or copper into drinking water may occur. The water supplier has provided information on lead in drinking water to users in a press release and in a flyer sent to residents. The water supplier has also conducted a Household Water Sampling Program to gather data on lead and copper levels from a representative sample of over 60 private residences. Corrective Action: The water supplier will need to communicate the findings of the Household Water Sampling Program to water users once they are available. The water supplier will also need to provide information on copper in drinking water to users (as has been done for lead). Information on the health risks associated with lead and copper, as well as measures that can be taken at a residential scale to remove lead and copper from drinking water supplies needs to be available for users to access. In the long-term, the implementation of effective water treatment will ultimately address the corrosivity of the water supply. |
| 313 | Inadequate treatment Observation: Levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) in the water exceed the maximum acceptable concentrations given in Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. Corrective Action: The water supplier will need to continue to measure the levels of THMs and HAAs every three months. As the running annual average of quarterly samples shows that the levels of THMs and HAAs exceed maximum acceptable concentrations, the water supplier will need to continue to make these results publically available, as well as providing users with information on how they can reduce their exposure to THMs and HAAs. In the long-term, the implementation of effective water treatment will ultimately address the elevated THM and HAA levels. |
| 320 | Other (specify below) Observation: The emergency response plan needs to be updated as the existing version of the plan has not been changed since 2006. Many of the details are now out of date. Corrective Action: Within one month of receiving of this report, submit an interim version of the emergency response plan with an updated list of emergency contacts and their phone numbers, and a decision flow-chart showing how to respond to Giardia and Cryptosporidium lab results. Within one year, submit an updated version of the emergency response plan that adequately meets the requirements given in section 13 of the Drinking Water Protection Regulation. The updated version of the plan a will need to include a sign-off sheet that holders of the plan must sign to confirm they have read it. Some examples of satisfactory emergency response plans will be provided to the operator with a copy of this report. |