Report to: General Committee                                                   Report Date: February 2, 2009

 

 

SUBJECT:                          The Ontario Ministry of Environment - Markham Distribution System – Drinking Water System Inspection Report

PREPARED BY:               Karen Dennison, M. Eng., P. Eng., Ext. 2519

                                            Waterworks, Manager of System Engineering

                                            Helena Dutaud, Ext. 2449

                                            Waterworks, Water Quality Coordinator

                                           

 

RECOMMENDATION:

1.         That the report entitled “The Ontario Ministry of Environment – Markham Distribution System – Drinking Water System Inspection Report” be received;

 

2.         And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not Applicable

 

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an update on the findings of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE)’s inspection of the Markham Water Distribution System for 2008.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

The Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 (SDWA) states that a provincial officer may at any reasonable time conduct an inspection for the purpose of determining compliance with regulatory requirements contained within the Act, or any of the associated regulations. Traditionally, the MOE has conducted an annual inspection of Markham’s Water Distribution System.

 

The MOE conducted an unannounced on-site inspection of the Markham Water Distribution System on December 3, 2008.  The MOE Inspector reviewed Waterworks procedures, policies and records for 2008 pertaining to the system both on-site and off-site following the physical inspection. 

 

The MOE inspection report was received on January 26, 2009, see attachment “A”.   Markham was found to be 100% in compliance with the MOE’s Drinking-Water Systems Regulation 170/03.

 

The MOE provided four best practice recommendations, identifying areas for further improvement of Markham’s procedures and polices.

 

The MOE requested Markham to forward a copy of the resultant Action Plan to the MOE Inspector by February 28, 2009.

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

The Town of Markham was found to be 100% in compliance with the MOE’s Drinking-Water Systems Regulation 170/03.

 

The MOE Inspector provided a list of Best Practice Issues and Recommendations as set out below.  These recommendations are provided by the MOE to identify areas where drinking water quality assurance can be further improved or protected.  Please note the “Recommended Actions” convey information that the owner or operating authority should consider implementing in order to improve procedures and policies already in place and are not considered violations.  The four recommendations are addressed and detailed in this report.

 

The Town’s response and action plan developed as a result of the 2008 MOE inspection is outlined below and has been forwarded to the MOE by the requested date (February 28, 2009).

 

These actions will also be tracked through the Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS) Corrective Action Process.  They will also be included with other actions under DWQMS element #21 Continual Improvement, a required DWQMS element.

 

 

MOE BEST PRACTICE ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 

1.      MOE’s Recommendation No. 1 - System Efficiencies Recommendation:

 

It was calculated that approximately 9.54% of the total amount of water distributed by the system was unaccounted for between January 1, 2008 to October 31, 2008.

 

(a)    It is recommended that the Town of Markham continue in its proactive leak detection program to identify factors contributing to unaccounted water loss.

 

Town’s Response and Action:

 

Leakage Identification Programs:

Markham is currently undertaking focused leakage management through continued implementation of the Management Area (MA) technique. Waterwork’s MA program is in the pilot phase.  One pilot MA (P1) is currently operational, three more pilot MAs are scheduled to be operational by the end of 2009. Real time data acquisition through SCADA within each MA will be undertaken. Once MA’s are implemented the following can more effectively be undertaken:

·        proactive leak detection

·        improved leak repair time

·        pressure management to reduce leakage volume

·        early recognition of watermain breaks

·        unreported leak management

·        estimation of water loss

·        trending of water quality parameters.

·        proactive optimized maintenance work to increase efficiency of the operation of Markham’s water distribution system

·        support for water conservation

 

Previous MOE recommendations also included that the Town of Markham continue in its proactive leak detection program; specifically its DMA pilots and SCADA monitoring plans.

 

Other Leakage Reduction Programs:

Current established Waterworks programs will continue to help us reduce deterioration of existing water mains and reduce leakage by minimizing the number of watermain breaks in the Markham distribution system. These programs include water main rehabilitation and replacement projects including the installation of anodes.

                                                                                                                        

 

2.  MOE’s Recommendation No. 2 - Reporting System Registration Information:         

     

      The latest population update from the Town placed the population at 268,599.  Now the population has grown to approximately 293,700.

 

      (a)  It is recommended that the Town of Markham submit a Drinking Water System                                     Profile Information form (publication (5386e) to the Ministry of the Environment (reg170_formsubmission.moe@ontario.ca) to update the population served by the system.  It is also recommended that if the population is updated in an annual report, the Town of Markham should give written notice of the change within 10 days of the report being finalized.

 

Town’s Response and Action:

In previous years, Waterworks has included the Town of Markham’s Drinking Water System Profile Information form as part of the Annual Report.  The MOE does not require this information to be part of the Annual Report.  Since this information is not required to be updated through the Annual Report, the Town will not be responsible to give written notice of any changes within 10 days of the annual report being finalized.  Instead the information will be reviewed at the end of each year and if there are any changes to be made, the Town will update the Drinking Water System Profile immediately and provide written notice of the changes directly to the MOE.  Waterworks has recently revised the Drinking Water System Profile Information form (#5386e), which includes a population update, and forwarded this information to the MOE as required.

 

Further, Waterworks will be implementing an Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for ‘Reporting Requirements’ to address the process of reporting as required in Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 and O. Reg. 170/03.  This SOP will detail the sourcing of information obtained (i.e. population numbers) as well as the timing and method of reporting. This SOP is expected to be completed by the end of March 2009 at which time will become part of DWQMS.   

 

3.  MOE Recommendation No. 3 - Log Book Recommendations:

      A log book is kept at 555 Miller Avenue, Markham.  After review, there were inefficiencies related to the entries made.

 

      (a)  It is recommended that although the work orders have the required information, the log book should reflect the work order.  The entries in the log book should also unambiguously identify the person making each entry and give the time of each event.  Errors in the log book should be crossed out with a single line with the individual’s identity made know (i.e. initials).

 

Town’s Response and Action:

Waterworks is in the process of creating a ‘Log Book Entry’ Work Instruction to become part of DWQMS, once finalized.  The Work Instruction will clearly detail the information required to be entered in the log book, including reference to corresponding work orders.  Once the Work Instruction has been finalized, it will be reviewed with all Operators and other affected staff at a following monthly Operations & Maintenance Meeting in 2009.

 

4.  Procedures Correction Recommendation:

 

The updated Waterworks Procedure #101, Adverse Water Quality Result Response SOP, was provided for review by the MOE.  Waterworks advised the MOE the SOP is currently in the process of being updated.

 

(a)    It is recommended that operating procedure The Waterworks Procedure #101, Adverse Water Quality Result Response SOP’, be submitted to the undersigned inspector after revisions have been made.

 

Town’s Response and Action:

Waterworks has reviewed and modified the SOP 16b ‘Adverse or Exceedance of a Water Quality Test Response’ and replaced it with SOP 16b ‘Response to Adverse Water Quality Test Result’, see Attachment “B” in this report, to clearly address the corrective actions as listed in O. Reg. 170/03, Schedule 17-5 and 17-6 in terms of communication protocol and combined chlorine requirements. A copy of this SOP has been forwarded to the MOE Inspector.  

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

Not Applicable.

 

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSIDERATIONS

Not applicable

 

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

Not applicable

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Not applicable

 

The report presented herein, communicates the results of the 2008 MOE Inspection held on December 3, 2008 and action items identified by Waterworks to the Drinking Water System Owner.

 

The undersigned represent the Top Management of Town of Markham’s Drinking Water Distribution System and by signing below the Top Management of the Operating Authority have reviewed the MOE Best Practice Issue and Recommendations as identified in the MOE Inspection and as well the action items as identified by Waterworks.

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    ________________________          ________________________

                                      Jerry Klaus,                                        Peter Loukes, P. Eng.

                                      General Manager, Waterworks           Director, Operations

 

 

 

                                      ________________________         

                                      Brenda Librecz

                                      Commissioner, Community & Fire Services

 

                                     

                                      ________________________         

                                      John Livey

                                      Chief Administrative Officer

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment “A” – Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Markham Distribution System / Drinking Water System Inspection Report, December 3, 2008.

 

Attachment “B” - SOP 16b ‘Response to Adverse Water Quality Test Result’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q:\Commission Share\Operations and Asset Management\Reports\2009\Waterworks\MOE Inspection Report\2008 MOE Inspection Council Report