Environmental Health Officers assign a Hazard Rating of Low, Moderate, or High to each water system report. Details of the issues and circumstances that determine a specific rating are as follows:
Low: At the time of assessment the water system was found to be in general compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Regulation (Health Act). No critical hazards were identified, and either no, or a limited number of minor operation or maintenance issues were identified.
Moderate: At the time of assessment the water system was found to be mostly in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Regulation. However, there are some difficulties related to the operation that require correction in order to ensure long-term protection of public health.
High: At the time of assessment significant problems were noted relating to the safety of the water and /or the maintenance and operation of the water system. The water system is not in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Regulation. A high hazard rating is generally accompanied by a boil water advisory because the microbiological quality of the water is unsafe or there are potential and significant risks that the water is susceptible to microbiological contamination. A high hazard may also be attributed to unacceptable concentrations of chemicals in the water, such as arsenic.