Drinking Water Source-To-Tap

Drinking Water Source-To-Tap Screening Tool

In 2004, the Province developed the self-screening Tool for use as a secondary method for assessing risk in drinking water systems.

This survey is to be completed by the water purveyor (on a voluntary basis or as required by the local Drinking Water Officer) and submitted to the Drinking Water Officer who evaluates the results. If significant risks are identified, the Drinking Water Officer can determine whether a water supplier needs to undertake a comprehensive source to tap assessment to further analyze the risks.

The tool is formatted as a question and answer

document consisting of 97 questions in the following categories:

• Administration, Management, Operation and Water System Description;
• Water Source;
• Water Treatment;
• Water Storage;
• Distribution; and
• Tap Water Quality.

Drinking Water Source-To-Tap Assessment

Professionals who will be conducting assessments, drinking water officers, and water suppliers are the intended audiences for this guideline.

Should significant risks to a water system be identified through the Source-to-Tap Screening, a Drinking Water Officer can assess the system for further action using an eight-step process:

1. Delineate and characterize drinking water source(s)
2. Conduct contaminant source inventory
3. Assess water system components
4. Evaluate water system management, operation, and maintenance practices
5. Audit finished water quality and quantity
6. Review financial capacity and governance of the water service agency
7. Characterize drinking water risks from source to tap
8. Propose a drinking water risk management strategy

The Comprehensive Source to Tap Assessment Guide Modules can be found on the BCWWA website.

Other Reports:

• Provincial Health Officer's report, Drinking Water Quality in British Columbia: The Public Health Perspective (2002)
• British Columbia Auditor General's report, Protecting Drinking Water Sources (1999)