More information on hazard ratings.
Inspection Information:
| Facility Type: | WS2 |
| Inspection type: | Follow-Up |
| Inspection date: | December 23, 2015 |
| Follow-up Required: | No |
This facility was given a high 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 |
| 311 | Critical Other (specify below) Observation: The operator did not adequately disseminate or provide information to their users concerning the boil water notice. Users were not notified until 2015-12-23, a day after the boil water notice was issued, and the only information provided to users was a single statement on a slip of paper that read “boil drinking water until system is purged.” It was also determined that not every user on the system was notified. It is a water supplier’s duty to notify users in a timely and informative matter during emergency situations, especially for those users who are young, elderly or immunocompromised. Failure to do so puts the health of users at risk. Corrective Action: Operator requires small water system training recognized by Northern Health and needs to develop an emergency response plan. This will help to ensure the operator is adequately prepared to handle emergency situations. Training must be completed by 2016-06 and an emergency response plan must be developed by 2016-01-25 (ERP template and guide provided by the EHO). |
| 311 | Critical Other (specify below) Observation: December sample results came back with unsatisfactory counts of total coliforms (2015-12-17 – Trailer #16 =8TC, Trailer #17=6TC, Trailer #37=6TC). In order to be considered safe for users to drink, water must be microbiologically safe and be free of indicator organisms, such as total coliforms. Corrective Action: On 2015-12-22, the operator was verbally informed of the results and requested to issue a boil water notice to their users. Also, the operator was instructed to shock chlorinate and flush the water system. The boil water notice must not be lifted until given authorization by the EHO. The boil water notice will only be lifted after 2 sets of consecutive samples taken 24 hours apart come back with satisfactory results and it is proven that the treatment system is operating as designed. |
| 313 | Inadequate treatment Observation: Chlorine residual was measured to be 0.02ppm at the operator’s residence at the end of the distribution system. A minimum chlorine residual of 0.2ppm is required in order to help suppress bacterial regrowth throughout the distribution. Corrective Action: Immediately start monitoring chlorine residual on a daily basis and start keeping records. This allows for troubleshooting in a more timely manner if chlorine levels are low and provides a detailed historical record if required by the EHO. |
| 313 | Inadequate treatment Observation: The water system does not meet Northern Health 4-3-2-1-0 drinking water objective (objective provided by EHO). This objective provides a performance target for water suppliers to ensure the provision of microbiologically safe drinking water. Risk to human health is substantially reduced when water suppliers meet this objective. Given the inherent risky nature of the source water (dug GWUDI/GARP well), it is important that this objective is achieved. Corrective Action: In order to meet the objective, the water system requires 2 treatment barriers. Currently, UV disinfection is considered to be the only effective treatment barrier in place for the system. Addition of a 1micron absolute filter and/or chlorine contact tank, are options for a second treatment barrier. The EHO, in conjunction with the public health engineer, will contact the operator to discuss treatment options. |
| 311 | Critical Other (specify below) Observation: The operator did not adequately disseminate or provide information to their users concerning the boil water notice. Users were not notified until 2015-12-23, a day after the boil water notice was issued, and the only information provided to users was a single statement on a slip of paper that read “boil drinking water until system is purged.” It was also determined that not every user on the system was notified. It is a water supplier’s duty to notify users in a timely and informative matter during emergency situations, especially for those users who are young, elderly or immunocompromised. Failure to do so puts the health of users at risk. Corrective Action: Operator requires small water system training recognized by Northern Health and needs to develop an emergency response plan. This will help to ensure the operator is adequately prepared to handle emergency situations. Training must be completed by 2016-06 and an emergency response plan must be developed by 2016-01-25 (ERP template and guide provided by the EHO). |
| 311 | Critical Other (specify below) Observation: December sample results came back with unsatisfactory counts of total coliforms (2015-12-17 – Trailer #16 =8TC, Trailer #17=6TC, Trailer #37=6TC). In order to be considered safe for users to drink, water must be microbiologically safe and be free of indicator organisms, such as total coliforms. Corrective Action: On 2015-12-22, the operator was verbally informed of the results and requested to issue a boil water notice to their users. Also, the operator was instructed to shock chlorinate and flush the water system. The boil water notice must not be lifted until given authorization by the EHO. The boil water notice will only be lifted after 2 sets of consecutive samples taken 24 hours apart come back with satisfactory results and it is proven that the treatment system is operating as designed. |
| 313 | Inadequate treatment Observation: Chlorine residual was measured to be 0.02ppm at the operator’s residence at the end of the distribution system. A minimum chlorine residual of 0.2ppm is required in order to help suppress bacterial regrowth throughout the distribution. Corrective Action: Immediately start monitoring chlorine residual on a daily basis and start keeping records. This allows for troubleshooting in a more timely manner if chlorine levels are low and provides a detailed historical record if required by the EHO. |
| 313 | Inadequate treatment Observation: The water system does not meet Northern Health 4-3-2-1-0 drinking water objective (objective provided by EHO). This objective provides a performance target for water suppliers to ensure the provision of microbiologically safe drinking water. Risk to human health is substantially reduced when water suppliers meet this objective. Given the inherent risky nature of the source water (dug GWUDI/GARP well), it is important that this objective is achieved. Corrective Action: In order to meet the objective, the water system requires 2 treatment barriers. Currently, UV disinfection is considered to be the only effective treatment barrier in place for the system. Addition of a 1micron absolute filter and/or chlorine contact tank, are options for a second treatment barrier. The EHO, in conjunction with the public health engineer, will contact the operator to discuss treatment options. |