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Drinking Water Strategy

The Drinking Water Strategy is an action plan to ensure PEI drinking water stays clear from the ground to the glass.  The strategy uses a multi-barrier approach to protecting drinking water, focusing on source protection, system design and operation, and monitoring and reporting.  These three elements are the foundation of a 10-point strategy which is termed "10 Points to Purity".

The first five points in the "10 Points to Purity" relate to private supplies.  In PEI, 57 per cent of the population depend on private wells for their drinking water and approximately 40 per cent have onsite sewage disposal systems for wastewater treatment.  A high proportion of drinking water quality problems can be directly related to the condition of wells or onsite sewage disposal systems.  The second five points in the "10 points to purity" relate to municipal supplies.  They are designed to ensure that Islanders who rely on a central water supply system for their drinking water can have confidence in the quality of that water.

1. We will invest in public information materials on planning, construction and maintenance of wells and sewage disposal systems and installation of treatment devices. By fall, 2001.
2. We will expand the current Homeowner's Kit encouraging homeowners to keep records for well construction, pump specifications, logs of water sampling and equipment repair. By fall, 2001.
3. We will invest in a field manual for technical staff to use in site suitability assessment for sewage disposal systems. By fall, 2001.
4. We will revise regulations governing water wells and sewage disposals systems, emphasizing safety, proper grouting, setbacks from possible sources of contamination, and replacement of antiquated and failing septic tanks. By spring, 2002.
5. We will update the site assessment handbook for use by developers in water and sewer servicing. By spring, 2002.
6. We will develop water monitoring and public reporting regulations for central water supply and wastewater treatment systems. By spring, 2002.
7. We will develop Standards and Guidelines for supply, storage, distribution and maintenance of water systems. By fall, 2002.
8. We will enforce mandatory certification for water supply and wastewater operators. By spring, 2003.
9. We will achieve full accreditation by the Standards Council of Canada for the Provincial Water Microbiology and Chemistry Laboratories. By spring, 2003.
10. We will work with municipalities and land owners in development of a strategy for municipal wellfield protection. By spring, 2004.