Hub Staff
Staff of Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) had an opportunity to speak with Saugeen Shores Council regarding the Ministry of Environment (MOE) grade of 89 percent for its 2016 inspection during the Committee of the Whole meeting March 27 in Council Chambers.
Vice President of Operations for OCWA, Richard Junkin, said that the drinking water for Saugeen Shores was “unequivocally safe” but that OCWA are not happy with 89 percent rating for the 2016 inspection. “It’s something that we’re going to improve upon and we certainly have systems in place that we feel will bring that rating up,” said Junkin, citing new and ongoing training and the hiring of new employees.
In August of 2016 a Drinking Water System Inspection was performed by the Ministry of the Environment. Their report raised seven non-compliance issues overall, from log-book compliance issues and an unlicensed operator.
Junkin said March 27 that log book training had been completed prior to the inspection and also since the undesirable rating. “There are certain protocols that have to be followed in those log books including chronological order, signing in and out of operational staff and all that stuff was there, only not to the detail that this inspector was looking for,” he said, adding that sometimes a new inspector might “look at things in a different light.”
“Sometimes that’s how these things happen,” said the Vice President of Operations.
Regional Hub and Operations Manager for OCWA Georgian Bay, Karen Lorente, told councillors that there is a privacy issue regarding licensing restricted by the province and that it’s on the employee to tell OCWA if they are licensed. Lorente said that OCWA has a new practice where their operators are required to email regarding their license status, and when it will expire. “The system will generate an e-mail automatically when certifications will expire in the next three months,” said Lorente, who stated that licenses expire every three years and that employees must undergo a certain amount of training every year.
She said the employee that the MOE found without an operators licence has been with OCWA for 18 years and experienced health issues which resulted in a lack of training time and will undergo testing in April for licensing as a Class 3 operator. The employee has since been removed from water duties.
Saugeen Shores Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau called the lack of licensing information a “gap in the system”.
“The fact that the province of Ontario isn't providing us with any certification back that our operators are licensed is a gap.” Charbonneau said that as an owner of the system it is council’s responsibility to check on OCWA and their work. “We need to be able to proactively check your work as the operator to ensure our responsibility and safety of the people drinking the water,” said the Deputy Mayor.
He continued, “the question of privacy has to come second to the health and safety of the public.” Charbonneau then stated there should be a conversation regarding this with the MOE.
Lorente said that she could provide town staff with information regarding notifications of operator licence expiry dates.
Lorente said the issue regarding the MacGregor Park incident was brought up by the MOE in the report because the unlicensed operator responded to the alarm and water shut off.
Junkin said, “the alarm sounded due to a waterline being turned off, that signals zero chlorine, but at no time was unchlorinated water not delivered to the system; and in fact no water was delivered to the system.” Since then a piping configuration has been changed.
Councillor Neil Menage apologized to the members of OCWA in attendance for his comments during the March 13 Committee of the Whole. “I possibly did get too much of one story and not enough of the other, for that I am sorry,” said Menage. He went on to say that he appreciated how OCWA addressed the low grade to councillors and asked if the Ministry had provided feedback on the changes OCWA had made since the report. Menage also asked if he could be included on a spot check to “validate that what you’re saying is taking place.”
While answering Menage’s questions, Junkin said the facility is checked by compliance staff who have a critical eye, “as critical as the MOE,” and welcomed Menage to do a walk through which will cover compliance, health and safety, licensing of operators and training hours. Lorente then stated that the Provincial Officer is satisfied with the information that has been provided from OCWA.
