Q-2, r. 40 - Regulation respecting the quality of drinking water

Section 36 Disposition versions

2012-09-01

36. Where the water available to users does not comply with any of the standards of quality set out in Schedule 1 or contains more than 80 µg/L of trihalomethanes or 60 µg/L of haloacetic acids, the person in charge of the distribution system or, as the case may be, of the tank truck from where the water originates must, on being so informed, notify the Minister and the public health director of the region concerned of the measures taken or to be taken to remedy the situation and, where applicable, to protect users from any risks involved. Where the water does not comply with the lead-related standard, the notice must be sent as soon as possible during business hours and mention the measures that the person in charge has taken or intends to take to locate the lead pipes of the distribution system. Where the water was collected from a distribution system that is supplied by a distribution system referred to in section 12.1, the person in charge of the supplying distribution system must, on being informed of the analysis results, also notify the person in charge of the distribution system that is supplied by the supplying distribution system. The latter is required to notify the Minister of the measures taken or to be taken to remedy the situation.

If the water contains fecal coliform bacteria or Escherichia coli bacteria, the person in charge of the distribution system or, as the case may be, of the tank truck is also required on being so informed to notify the users concerned using the media, by sending individual written notices or by any other appropriate means to reach the users concerned, that the water at their disposal is unfit for human consumption and of the precautions to be taken. Where the users concerned include health and social services institutions, educational institutions or correctional facilities, they must be notified individually.

In the case of a distribution system serving exclusively an enterprise, an educational institution, a correctional facility, a health and social services institution or a tourist establishment, the notice referred to in the second paragraph is given as provided in section 38.

The notices to be given to users shall be given at least once every 2 weeks and until it is shown, in accordance with section 39, that the water supplied is free from total coliform bacteria and complies with the standards of quality established in Schedule 1 with respect to other analyzed microorganisms. The person in charge of the distribution system or, as the case may be, the person in charge of the tank truck must immediately send to the Minister and the public health director a signed declaration whereby the person in charge declares that the notices prescribed by this section were given in accordance with the terms and conditions provided therein by indicating the dates of the notices, the sectors concerned and the method used to give the notices.

For the purposes of this section, “users in question” means, in the case of a distribution system, all those persons who, considering the hydraulic features of the system, are likely to be supplied with contaminated water.

O.C. 647-2001, s. 36; O.C. 467-2005, s. 33; O.C. 70-2012, s. 43.