Province of Manitoba » Water Stewardship » Drinking Water » Office of Drinking Water » Operation & Monitoring
Section 20 of The Drinking Water Safety Act refers to the requirements for disinfection and record-keeping for public and semi-public drinking water systems. Section 21 of The Drinking Water Safety Act refers to the requirement for routine water quality sampling and analysis. Section 25 of The Drinking Water Safety Act mandates that written operational records be made and retained. Specific requirements for sampling, monitoring, record-keeping and reporting are addressed in the Drinking Water Safety Regulation and the Drinking Water Quality Standards Regulation.
The Office of Drinking Water has developed guidelines to assist operators in meeting regulatory obligations for monitoring and reporting under The Drinking Water Safety Act. Monitoring and Reporting forms are available on the Forms page.
Operational Guidelines for Monitoring and Reporting - Public and Semi-Public Water Systems. (PDF / 47 pages / 1.7 MB)
Please contact your regional Drinking Water Officer if you have any questions regarding water system monitoring.
Semi-public water system owners and operators should discuss water system monitoring with their regional Drinking Water Officer.
The Office of Drinking Water has developed a guidance manual for owners and operators of small drinking water systems that summarizes best practices for operation and monitoring including sample activity log sheets and resource links.
Best Practices Manual for Small Drinking Water Systems (PDF / 51 pages / 1.5 MB)
Section 8 of The Drinking Water Safety Act sets out a requirement for owners of public and semi-public water systems to have a valid operating licence for their water system. An operating licence contains terms and conditions for water system operation such as monitoring and reporting. Specific requirements for such submissions are addressed in the Drinking Water Safety Regulation. Water system owners will be notified by the Office of Drinking Water of the deadline for applying for their first operating licence issued under The Drinking Water Safety Act. Operating Licence application forms, and an Operating Licence Application Guideline are available on the Forms page.
Office of Drinking Water staff carry out periodic inspections of water systems to evaluate design, operational and monitoring issues, and provide advice on corrective measures. Sections 27 and 28 of The Drinking Water Safety Act refer to entry and inspection powers for provincial personnel.
The Drinking Water Quality Standards Regulation and the Drinking Water Safety Regulation include bacteriological, microbial, physical (turbidity) and chemical standards for public and semi-public water systems along with their associated monitoring requirements. Additional system-specific standards and monitoring requirements may also be stipulated in an operating licence.
The Environmental Approvals Branch of Manitoba Conservation is responsible for the provincial water and wastewater facility operator certification program. The program involves education, examination and experience requirements.
Please visit their web site for further information:
Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Regulation (77/2003):