Environmental Science & Engineering - www.esemag.com - June 2004
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Newfoundland/Labrador water report available
This drinking water safety report
outlines accomplishments and
activities for 2002-03 under the
Multi-Barrier Strategic Action
Plan (MBSAP) for drinking water
safety in Newfoundland/Labrador.
The report says that substantial
progress has been made in the implementation
of the MBSAP for drinking
water safety over the past year. Some
of the highlights include:
- The designation of 12 new protected
water supply areas.
- Digitization of public water supply
areas.
- Investment of over $120.41 million
on various water and sewer related
projects to date.
- Continued routine monitoring of
drinking water quality for all public
water supply systems.
- Provision of quarterly and annual
water quality reports to all communities.
- Improved reporting of drinking water
quality data.
- A reduction in the number of boil
water advisories.
- Resolution of drinking water quality
issues (pH, colour, turbidity, arsenic,
fluoride, lead and trihalomethanes) in
a number of communities.
- Improvements in regulatory approval
and inspection systems.
- Development of an arsenic risk map
of the island portion of the province.
- Delivery of operator education and
training through classroom sessions
and hands-on training sessions.
During the 2002-03 fiscal year, the
Newfoundland and Labrador government
allocated $1.5 million for drinking
water initiatives. In addition, $55.8
million was spent on capital infrastructure.
The Department of Environment
spent $530,000 to implement phase
two of its community based operator
education and training program and to
support the drinking water quality
monitoring program. In addition to
capital infrastructure funding, the
Department of Municipal and
Provincial Affairs also hired three
Community Water and Wastewater
Specialists.
The department also provided
financial assistance to communities
attending the training, workshop and
certification courses relating to drinking
water safety. The Department of
Government Services and Lands hired
seven Environmental Health Officers
in 2002-03. The Department of Health
and Community Services spent nearly
$500,000 to increase the capacity of
the Newfoundland Public Health
Laboratory, to hire an Environmental
Health Specialist and to provide funding
for the Health Labrador and
Grenfell Regional Health Services to
hire a shared Environmental Health
Coordinator.
The Drinking Water Safety
Technical Working Group met on a
regular basis throughout the year to
deal with drinking water issues and
outline the proposed path forward.
See our home page on how to order your subscription. We regret we can
only accept orders from Canada and the United States.