Investigating Standards for Small Water and Wastewater Systems in Northern Canada

Paul Steenhof,Michel Duteau

doi:10.22584/nr51.2021.005

Abstract

Research investigating the potential of standards for the build, operation, and maintenance phases of small water and wastewater systems in the Canadian North was conducted to identify opportunities for standards to help ensure safe, accessible, and high-quality drinking water and sanitation for all northerners. This involved a review of literature, a survey of northern water system users and practitioners, and key informant interviews. The study highlights a general trend of low adaptation to local conditions for standardization documents on many technical topics in northern Canada. A number of major themes and corresponding recommendations are subsequently drawn with respect to potential for standardization efforts. Of these, training and certification/classification were identified as a key area that has many gaps, challenges, and potential opportunities with respect to the use of standardized procedures for small-scale water and wastewater systems. Subsequently, this is also identified as the area where standardization efforts may have the broadest social benefit, urgency, as well as potential feasibility.

Highlights

1.1 General is article builds upon a comprehensive review of opportunities for standards to contribute to health, safety, resilience, and environmental protection in northern Canada (Steenhof 2018) by focusing on access to clean and safe drinking water and sanitation, and considering the complementary roles of training and certi cation for this topic area
In this article we focus on needs speci c to small-scale water and wastewater systems servicing 500 people or fewer
Research investigating the potential of standards for the build, operation, and maintenance phases of small water and wastewater systems in northern Canada was conducted to identify opportunities for standards to help ensure safe, accessible, and high-quality drinking water and sanitation for all northerners

Summary

Introduction

While signi cant investments have been made in water and wastewater infrastructure in the North, water systems across the region have received poor grades in recent years and are generally still below the Canadian average—especially in Indigenous communities and for systems servicing smaller communities and population centres (Ecojustice 2011; Government of Canada 2011; Human Rights Watch 2016). In this article we focus on needs speci c to small-scale water and wastewater systems servicing 500 people or fewer. Based on a review of publicly available information, there are about 500 such systems in Canada’s North (and an upper limit of 25,000 people in terms of the potentially affected population). Based on a review of publicly available information, there are about 500 such systems in Canada’s North (and an upper limit of 25,000 people in terms of the potentially affected population). is includes publicly owned small systems as well as systems serving the general public that are owned and operated by private interests

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion