Shared roles and responsibilities in protecting B.C. drinking water

Water Users: Stay informed about water use and water quality advisories. Communicate concerns about drinking water quality with drinking water officers and water supplier. 

Water System Owners and Operators: Provide safe drinking water. Notify the public & drinking water officers about water quality problems. 

Ministry of Health: Administers the Drinking Water Protection Act & Drinking Water Protection Regulation. Set standards and directives. Develops provincial drinking water officer guidelines.  

Ministry of Water, Land & Resource Stewardship: Develops provincial water policy and source water quality guidelines, authorizes water use, regulates water utilities, and leads watershed science and source water protection research and hazard assessment projects.  

Office of the Provincial Health Officer: Provides oversight, monitors and reports on the status of drinking water, and provides independent and informed advice on how B.C. can improve its protection of public health and drinking water. 

Health Canada: Develops the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality and the Guideline Technical Documents in collaboration with Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committees. 

Indigenous Services Canada: Provides advice and funding to support First Nation water systems and drinking water monitoring

Regional Health Authorities - Drinking Water Officers: Responsible for compliance and enforcement activities under the Drinking Water Protection Act & Drinking Water Protection Regulation. 

First Nations Health Authority: Works with First Nations to ensure safe drinking water in First Nation communities. Coordinate with provincial & federal drinking water partners 

Environmental Operators Certification Program: Administers drinking water facility classification & certifies water system operators. 

Training Organizations: Provide training to water system operators.