Alberta Environment’s Drinking Water Program


Alberta Environment ensures safe drinking water by:

Alberta Environment uses a multi-barrier approach to ensure that safe drinking water is provided to all Albertans. This method is referred to as a ‘Source to Tap’ approach, referring to the continuum of processes to treat the water between the water source and your drinking water tap. Processes can include everything mitigating potential impacts to the raw water source to chemical treatments and filtration.

Barriers may be physical or administrative in nature. A physical barrier is a material object that impedes or separates; a filter is an example of a physical barrier. Physical barriers are quantitative in nature and allow for an assessment of tangible measurable results. An administrative barrier is more conceptual and more difficult to quantify. For example, the cumulative effect that development (such as residential, commercial, industrial, forestry and agricultural activities) has on a watershed can dramatically impact water quality. Source protection planning is an example of an administrative approach. It identifies risks and hazards impacting raw water supplies and allows for more informed decision-making with regard to activities and development and lowers the risk of potential adverse impacts.

Monitoring Reports:

Alberta Environment receives annual reports from drinking water facility owners and operators facilities. In addition, facilities collect monthly reporting data summarizing the results of their drinking water quality testing.

Alberta Environment is working with facilities to have all monthly reports available electronically, and to provide public access to this data. This website provides access to all of the monthly reports that Alberta Environment is currently receiving through electronic reporting. Reports that are not currently available on this website can be obtained by contacting Alberta Environment’s Regional Offices.

Inspections:

Facilities are inspected to ensure they meet the requirements of their Alberta Environment approvals or registrations. This website contains information gathered during the most recent inspection at each treatment facility.

The frequency of inspections is dependent on the nature of the water supply for the waterworks system. At a minimum, facilities with a surface water source are inspected annually, while facilities with a high quality groundwater source are inspected every two years.

Inspection Outcomes:

Following an inspection, a number of steps may be taken. If at any time the Alberta Environment inspector identifies an issue that may adversely impact health, the local health authority is notified immediately. Other issues may be referred to department staff for their involvement. For example, where the inspector identifies an opportunity for a facility to optimize performance, an Alberta Environment Drinking Water Operations Specialist may be called in to help.

The water quality information on this website is collected by Alberta Environment and Parks under regulatory requirements to operate a waterworks system. This is public information, however, it is not the most current available in time due to reporting schedules. Most information here is 30 to 60 days previous, and older.

You are advised to contact either your water provider or Alberta Health Services to determine current water quality for your waterworks system, specifically if there are any advisories in place. If available, service provider contact information and websites are available under the Contact Information link (at the top) once you select a waterworks system.

The materials on this site are provided "as is" without warranties or conditions of any kind either expressed or implied. To the fullest extent possible under applicable law, the Government of Alberta disclaims all warranties and conditions, expressed or implied, including but not limited to, implied warranties or conditions of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement or other violation of rights. The Government of Alberta does not warrant or make any other representations regarding the use, accuracy, timelines, applicability, performance, security, availability or reliability of this website or any sites linked to this site, or the results from the use of this website or any sites linked to this website, or otherwise respecting the materials on this website or any sites linked to this website.