Small Drinking Water Systems

If your business or organization provides unrestricted access to drinking water for the public and your water is not directly from a municipal (city) source you could be operating a Small Drinking Water System (SDWS). These systems need to follow the requirements for Small Drinking Water Systems (O. Reg. 319/08).¹

If you operate a Small Drinking Water System (SDWS), please review the guide for operators and owners of drinking water systems that serve designated facilities for full information on requirements.

Small Drinking Water Systems can include:¹

A food service establishment
A place that operates primarily for the purpose of providing overnight accommodation to the travelling public
A trailer park or campground
A marina
A church, mosque, synagogue, temple or other place of worship
A recreational camp
A recreational or athletic facility
A place, other than a private residence, where a service club or fraternal organization meets on a regular basis, or
Any place where the general public has access to a washroom, drinking water fountain or shower.

What if my business or organization operates a Small Drinking Water System?

If your business or organization operates a Small Drinking Water System you will need to review the information below:

Forms to be completed
Small Drinking Water Systems Operator's Guide
Adverse Water Quality Incident Reporting

AND contact a Public Health Inspector at:

519-663-5317

Inspections

Small Drinking Water Systems get assigned risk ratings: High, Moderate or Low.

High risk systems are inspected / assessed every 2 years.
Moderate and Low risk systems are inspected / assessed every 4 years.

View the inspection results for Small Drinking Water Systems in Middlesex-London from the link below.

Inspection Results

A Church Well

Forms to be completed

Notice to Operate or Reopen a Small Drinking Water System form
To be used by owners/operators of Small Drinking Water Systems to provide notice that they intend to open or reopen. For seasonal reopenings, please submit the form a minimum of two weeks prior to the date you wish to open for the season.
Laboratory Services Notification (LSN) form
To be used by owners/operators of Small Drinking Water Systems to identify which licensed laboratory in Ontario will test their drinking water samples.

Please return completed forms to:

Mail: Middlesex-London Health Unit
Attention: Environmental Health
355 Wellington St, Suite 110, London, ON N6A 3N7
Fax: 519-663-9276, or
E-mail: inspections@mlhu.on.ca
Please indicate "SDWS 319" in the subject line

Once the two forms have been received by the Middlesex-London Health Unit, you will be contacted by a Public Health Inspector to arrange a time for a site specific risk assessment.