Victoria, BC –The Capital Regional District (CRD) released its 2017 Annual Report on Greater Victoria Drinking Water Quality this week, providing an overview of water quality testing conducted in 2017 across the Regional Water Supply System serving Greater Victoria. Results included in the report indicate that our regional drinking water continues to be of excellent quality and safe to drink.
The CRD undertakes a comprehensive water quality monitoring program as part of its multi-barrier approach to providing a safe drinking water supply to Greater Victoria. The key aspects of the program are to ensure that the source water is of good quality; that treatment is effective; that residual chlorine levels throughout the system are adequate to prevent bacteriological contamination; that there are no pathogens in the treated water; and that the water is free of any aesthetic concerns. The program is designed to meet the requirements of the provincial regulatory framework which is defined by the BC Drinking Water Protection Act and Drinking Water Protection Regulation, as well as follow the federal Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality.
The report summarizes results from water quality samples taken from our source drinking water reservoirs and throughout the water supply system. Staff collect approximately 6,500 samples, and conduct over 28,000 individual analyses for a variety of bacteriological, physical, chemical and radiological parameters every year through the program. The CRD works closely with Island Health, who oversees compliance with drinking water standards and provincial regulations, along with staff in CRD facilities and across all local municipalities, who rely on the information to properly operate and maintain the overall system.
The full report is available online at https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/document-library/documents/annual-reports/environmental-protection/water-quality.
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Glenn Harris, Senior Manager
Environmental Protection
Tel: 250.360.3090
Cell: 250.413.7142
Ted Robbins, General Manager
Integrated Water Services
Tel: 250.360.3061
Cell: 250.217.9084