York Region's drinking water quality scores 100% in Chief Drinking Water Report

'Residents can feel assured the water they use daily is meeting the highest standards'

Yorkregion.com
May 13, 2021
Aileen Zangouei

York Region gets top marks for drinking water quality after inspections in the Chief Drinking Water Report achieve 100 per cent.

This marks the second year in a row the region is getting a perfect score on the annual report card for water samples meeting Ontario's drinking water quality standard and an inspection score of 100 per cent.

In 2020, Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks inspections at all 15 York Region drinking water systems scored a perfect 100.

"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 Wayne Emmerson, York Region chair and CEO.

“Year after year, residents can feel assured the water they use daily is meeting the highest standards," Emmerson said.

The 2020 Drinking Water Systems Report highlights the region's actions to protect water quality and sustain compliance under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 2002.

"York Region’s robust and rigorous compliance approach includes source water protection, operator training, water treatment, extensive monitoring and testing, and emergency preparedness," according to a May 7, media release from the region.

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

In 2020, the region was recognized by the Ontario Public Works Association for its management innovation as a leader in drinking water data management and transparency with the public through providing reports online at York.ca/drinkingwater. Information such as water quality reports for community water systems can be found online, as well as answers to frequently asked questions such as "Where does my water come from?" and "How does York Region disinfect my water?"