Groundwater Regulations
Water wells, their construction, pump systems, and maintenance, must meet the requirements of Ontario's Reg. 903.
Everything we drill, install, and service complies with R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 903 (Wells), made under the Ontario Water Resources Act. Here's a plain-language map of the legislation that governs Ontario's drinking water, with links to the official texts on e-Laws.
Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002
In the Part Two Report of the Walkerton Inquiry, Commissioner Dennis O'Connor recommended that Ontario enact a Safe Drinking Water Act to gather in one place all legislation and regulation for the treatment and distribution of drinking water. The resulting Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 protects human health through the control and regulation of drinking-water systems and testing, and implemented 50 of the 93 recommendations from the Inquiry's Part Two Report.
The key acts
- Ontario Water Resources Act, R.S.O. 1990, including Reg. 903, Wells (the regulation that governs well construction, pumps, and maintenance), plus regulations on water taking and sewage works licensing.
- Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002: drinking water systems, testing services, operator certification, and the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards.
- Clean Water Act, 2006: source protection areas, regions, and committees protecting water before it reaches the well.