Quick Guide: Small, and Very Small Water Systems

This page is a quick reference for operators of small water systems (SWS), and very small water systems (VSWS).  It is not comprehensive, so please consult with department staff, or review regulations for questions not answered within this guide.

A printable copy of this guide can be found here. 

System Classification:

• Very small water systems have 5-20 connections
• Small water systems have 21-150 connections (all campgrounds are considered SWS)

Amongst other requirements, small and very small water systems must:

• Be a registered facility with a license to operate from Land and Environment.
• Designate a qualified operator in charge to act as a point of contact for the system, and identify the point of contact to the department.
• Employ primary disinfectant to achieve a 0.5 log reduction in viruses (approved U.V. light system of chlorine distribution).
• Provide water samples as specified in regulations and keep records of testing results for reporting purposes. 

Sampling Requirements 

Bacteria samples must be gathered on a quarterly basis as described below:

• VSWS- Minimum one bacteria sample per supply well, and one bacteria sample within the distribution
• SWS- Minimum one bacteria sample per supply well, and two bacteria samples within the distribution

Taking samples from the first and last locations within distribution is the ideal practice.  Chemistry for supply sources can be gathered during this process in addition to bacteria.  A general chemistry sample shall be provided once every three years.

Seasonal Operation Note: For systems which operate seasonally, samples must be gathered prior to service resuming. Quarterly samples are still required while the system is in use, and not required during seasonal closures.

Sampling Procedure and Best Practices

1. Remove the aerator or faucet head from the tap
2. Run water for five minutes prior to taking the sample
3. Avoid contact with the interior of the bottle, and bottle cap
4. Place samples into a cooler to keep the temperature below 15°C
5. Always store extra sample bottles, so long as they are unopened, they do not expire
6. General chemistry results take a minimum of three weeks, and may take more than four weeks during peak seasons

Reportable Events

The following events must be reported:

1. Planned or unplanned depressurization events (water main break)
2. Disinfection system or other component failures
3. Significant upgrades or changes to the system

Interpreting Results and Water Treatment

General chemistry or bacteria testing results may require a response on the part of the owner/operator.  Interpretive comments are included in water results as required and highlight any quality issues or observations detected in the sample. Owners should read these result comments in full and respond accordingly.

Department staff are available to answer any questions, and there are various information pages on the webpage below which can also guide an owner/operator:  Drinking Water 

Well Disinfection

Follow recommendations by the Government of PEI as well as the operator in charge.

Information on well disinfection can be found on our website.  The most common mistake is selecting a bleach product that isn’t within the recommended strength range of 5%-9% hypochlorite.  The second common mistake is not using enough water.