What is a public drinking water supply?

A "public drinking water supply” means a water supply system, including any source, intake, treatment, storage, transmission or distribution, that is intended to provide the public with potable, piped water and that:

1. has at least 15 service connections,
2. regularly serves 25 or more persons per day for at least 60 days of the year, or
3. serves any of the following for at least 60 days of the year:

1. a day care facility licensed in accordance with the Day Care Act,
2. a permanent food establishment licensed in accordance with the Health Protection Act,
3. a commercial property for the accommodation of the travelling or vacationing public comprising land used for camping or for overnight parking of recreational vehicles or containing a separate building or buildings containing at least 1 room to be used as an alternate form of accommodation in a campground,
4. a commercial property for the accommodation of the travelling or vacationing public containing more than 4 rental units, including cottages or cabins.

This includes municipal, commercial, institutional, industrial, and privately owned water supplies (e.g. schools, restaurants, nursing homes, campgrounds, & parks which are on their own drinking water supply).

See, Water and Wastewater Facility Regulations, Part 2, Section 31.

Examples:

• lake
• river
• ground water aquifer
• cistern