York Region's drinking water gets top marks

Water samples taken from the region earned a score of 99.98 per cent on the Chief Drinking Water Inspector's annual report card

Newmarkettoday.ca
May 10, 2021

The Regional Municipality of York continues to receive excellent drinking water scores with the 2020 Drinking Water Systems Report.

York Region received excellent scores in the 2019-20 Chief Drinking Water Inspector’s Annual Report Card with a score of 99.98 per cent for water samples meeting Ontario’s drinking water quality standards and an inspection score of 100 per cent. In 2020, Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks inspections at all 15 York Region operated drinking water systems scored 100 per cent.

“Scoring 100 per cent demonstrates the efficiency of our advanced systems and resilience of our staff working tirelessly to provide access to clean, safe, reliable drinking water, even throughout a pandemic,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “Year after year residents can feel assured the water they use daily is meeting the highest standards.”

The 2020 Drinking Water Systems Report highlights York Region’s actions to protect water quality and sustain compliance under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. York Region’s robust and rigorous compliance approach includes source water protection, operator training, water treatment, extensive monitoring and testing and emergency preparedness.

“York Region is working with the local nine cities and towns and neighbouring municipalities to protect the people in their communities,” said City of Vaughan Regional Councillor Mario Ferri, Chair of Environmental Services. “With investments and coordinated efforts we will continue to seamlessly maintain, monitor and continuously improve our systems to constantly deliver high quality drinking water.”

Water quality reports for your community water systems can be found online. In 2020, the Ontario Public Works Association recognized York Region for management innovation as a leader in drinking water data management and transparency with the public.

Water in York Region is delivered through a two-tier system. The region operates and maintains 15 drinking water supply systems, which provide water to the nine local cities and towns. High quality water is then distributed to residents and businesses by the local nine cities and towns who collectively maintain their drinking water distribution systems.

The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to 1.2 million residents and 54,000 businesses with 650,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available here.