Steps to lifting a drinking water advisory

On this page

• Identify the problem and investigate solutions
• Repair or replace infrastructure
• Confirm the system is producing clean water
• Lift the advisory and implement best practices

Identify the problem and investigate solutions

When there is an issue with water quality and a drinking water advisory has been issued in a First Nations community, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and other partners support the First Nation with:

• identifying the cause
• finding the most appropriate solution
• determining what work is needed

Measures could include:

• repair or replace infrastructure
• provide additional training
• support improved water monitoring

When there is a drinking water advisory, an assessment is done to find the root cause of the issue.

If the issue relates to existing infrastructure, the First Nation may undertake a feasibility study, with support from ISC. During the feasibility study, options to improve drinking water quality are analyzed. The First Nation, working with ISC, decides how it would like to proceed. Each community is unique and requires its own solution.

Usually, there are 2 ways to proceed:

• upgrade or repair an existing water treatment plant or related infrastructure
• build a new water treatment plant

The decision on whether to repair or replace infrastructure is made based on:

• age and state of the existing infrastructure
• extent of the upgrades and repairs required
• a life-cycle cost analysis that takes into account the cost to build and operate the infrastructure

If the advisory is the result of challenges in ensuring continuous safe operation, maintenance or oversight of the water system, ISC will provide funding for training or help with system operations directly to the First Nation or through First Nations organizations such as the Circuit Rider Trainers Program, tribal councils or centralized hubs.

Repair or replace infrastructure

If the First Nation and ISC determine that repairs, upgrades or new infrastructure may be the most suitable path forward, ISC will allocate funding to support the project. The First Nation, as the manager and operator of the system, hires and contracts specialists as required, conducts tendering and hires contractors. First Nations are supported by protocols and guidelines developed by ISC, and ISC may provide technical advice on request.

The next steps of the project may include:

• designing the infrastructure
• hiring a project manager
• planning and tendering construction
• monitoring construction

Confirm the system is producing clean water

After the infrastructure, operations and monitoring improvements have been made, an environmental public health officer works with the community-based water team, which may include the system's operator and public works manager, to test and confirm the water is now safe to drink and use and there is qualified staff to continue operations.

The Environmental Public Health Officer recommends to chief and council that the long-term drinking water advisory be lifted.

Lift the advisory and implement best practices

The chief and council or delegates will decide to lift the advisory. ISC can provide support with community awareness materials to announce the advisory lift.

ISC will continue to work with a First Nation after a drinking water advisory is lifted to help prevent future advisories and implement best practices such as:

• record-keeping
• ongoing training
• developing operations and maintenance protocols
• recording lessons learned