October 2009

In May 2000, Walkerton’s drinking water system became contaminated with deadly bacteria, primarily Escherichia coli O157:H7.1 Seven people died, and more than 2,300 became ill. The community was devastated. The losses were enormous. An inquiry was conducted by Chief Justice - The Honourable Dennis R. O’Connor, his findings changed how water is tested, treated, distributed.

Read his report at: http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/walkerton/

Carleton Place Public WorksConsider the numbers:

1 Water Treatment Plant1 Waste Treatment Plant1 Water Tower45 km of pipe600 Valves400 HydrantsApprox. 4500 cubic meters of water is consumed each day (4.5 million L)

Collective policies, plans, procedures, and the supporting infrastructure by which an organization aims to reduce and eventually eliminate non-conformance to specifications, standards, and customer expectations in the most effective and efficient manner.

1. Document what you do2. Perform your documentation3. Record your performance4. Improve your performance

Plan – establish the objectives, policy, and procedures necessary to deliver the results

Do – implement the procedures

Check – monitor and measure procedures and report the results

Improve – take action to continually improve performance

Anyone responsible and / or involved in the delivery of safe drinking water from a municipal residential drinking water system.

This includes the Mayor, Councilors, Clerks, Treasurers, CAOs, Public Works Staff, Operating Authorities, Managers, Operators, and Administrative Assistants

New requirements for the owner (Corp. of the Town of Carleton Place) & operating authority (OCWA) approval to operate the drinking water system.

Adds requirements to increase awareness of management processes and procedures throughout the organization.

Requirement for documented RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY.

DWQMS does not change the classification for operator certification or the drinking water system.

Does not change the current inspection process for achieving compliance at our facility.

The System as a whole is striving to reduce the risks

Provides consistency to operations Provides procedures to reduce errors Improves teamwork & communications Roles & responsibilities are clearly identified Everyone strives to improve

1. Quality Management System2. Quality Management System Policy3. Commitment and Endorsement4. QMS Representative5. Document & Records Control6. Drinking Water System7. Risk Assessment8. Risk Assessment Outcomes9. Organizational Structure, Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities10. Competencies11. Personnel Coverage12. Communications13. Essential Supplies & Services14. Review & Provision of Infrastructure15. Infrastructure Maintenance, Rehabilitation, and Renewal

16. Sampling, Testing, and Monitoring17. Measurement and Recording Equipment Calibration and Maintenance18. Emergency Management19. Internal Audits20. Management Review21. Continual Improvement

Carleton Place Quality Management System

The Operational Plan defines and documents the Quality Management System (QMS) for the Town of Carleton Place Water Distribution System owned by the Town of Carleton Place and operated by the Town of Carleton Place Public Works.

    The Operational Plan must have a QMS policy that provides the

foundation for the QMS and;I. is appropriate for the size and type of the subject systemII. includes a commitment to maintenance and continual improvementIII. includes a commitment to the consumer to provide safe drinking

waterIV. includes a commitment to comply with applicable legislation and

regulationsV. is created in a way that provides for ready communication to all

operating authority personnel, the owner and the public.

 

Commitment & Endorsement of the Town of Carleton Place Water Distribution System’s

QMS & Operational Plan

The Town of Carleton Place DWQMS Operational Plan is endorsed and supported by the Town of Carleton Place, the Mayor, Councilors and the Director of Public Works.

Quality Management System Representative

The QMS Representative will ensure that current versions of documents related to the QMS are in use, reporting on QMS performance, identify opportunities, and ensure personnel are aware of all applicable legislative and regulatory requirements that pertain to their operational duties.

ALL PERSONNEL HAVE A ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THE DWQMS.

This element outlines the procedures for identification, storage, protection, retrieval, retention time, and disposition of documents and records.

The drinking water distribution system is comprised of approximately 45kms of piping, 600 valves, and 400 hydrants

The Public Works Staff have identified threats / hazardous events that could have a negative impact on the system’s ability to deliver safe water. Specific control measures and procedures are in place to minimize the opportunity.

CAO

Director of Public Works QMS Representative

Public Works Superintendant

Operator

The Operational Plan describes the competencies required for staff who perform duties that directly affect drinking water quality. Also how we develop and maintain competencies and ensures staff understands the impact their duties have on safe drinking water.

This element is designed to ensure sufficient & competent personnel (element 10) are available for duties that directly affect drinking water quality.

This element requires us to communicate our QMS policy and other relevant QMS procedures to council, staff, external partners and the public.

Element 13 describes the procedure for procurement and ensuring the quality of essential supplies. It also identifies the supplies and services deemed essential to the safe delivery of water.

Element 14 describes procedure for the Municipality of Carleton Place to review the adequacy of infrastructure necessary to operate and maintain a safe drinking water system.

The Director of Public Works, with input from all related staff is responsible for the development of maintenance, rehabilitation, and renewal programs.

Council authorizes the implementation of these plans through the annual budget process.

Maintenance plans are developed in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, regulatory requirements, industry standards and staff input.

Rehabilitation & renewal activities are communicated to the public through Council Action reports and local media and the Town’s website.

The focus of element 16 is establishing and implementing a procedure that describes how the Town of Carleton Place samples, tests, and monitors for process control and finished drinking water quality.

Element 17 describes the procedure for the calibration and maintenance of measurement and recording equipment.

Element 18 ensures the Town of Carleton Place is prepared for emergency situations that could impact our ability to maintain the supply of safe drinking water. This element also includes the Water Emergency Response Plan.

A procedure and plan for conducting internal audits is required! This is a self auditing process that ensures we measure the effectiveness of our management plan and our conformity to the DWQMS requirements.

This element requires an annual management review procedure that covers areas such as (but not limited to):

• Incidents of adverse drinking water tests• Compliance• Operational Performance• Results of Emergency Response Testing

In conjunction with the internal audit processes documented above, the Town of Carleton Place Public Works uses action plans to continuously improve its’ QMS. Through these processes, areas of concern as well as opportunities for improvement are identified.

The Town of Carleton Place is committed to providing our residents safe drinking water.

DWQMS is ongoing process and with everyone’s involvement we will strive to enhance our quality systems.

If you have any questions, please contact our office, 613-257-2253.