Enhancing the Assessment and Monitoring of Water Distribution Systems in British Columbia

This research proposal aims to enhance the assessment and monitoring of water distribution systems in British Columbia (BC). Water distribution systems (WDS) are crucial for public health, delivering drinking water from treatment plants to consumers. However, these systems often face challenges such as microbial contamination, cross-connection, corrosion, disinfectant byproducts, and physical integrity issues that can degrade water quality.  

BC faces unique challenges, including microbiological quality issues, infrastructure complexities, drought, and climate change effects on infrastructure. These challenges can lead to WDS breaches impacting potable water quality, pathogen regrowth, biofilm formation, and external contamination. Heavy metal and chemical contamination due to pipe corrosion or accumulation from source water also poses a risk. 

Existing provincial drinking water guidelines do not provide consistent advice to BC health authorities for assessing and monitoring WDS, as highlighted in the 2024 Provincial Health Officer’s Drinking Water report. This project aims to fill this gap by developing evidence-based best practices for the BC Ministry of Health to develop adequate guidelines. The project is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Health System Impact program with the contribution from Health Research BC and Michael Smith Institute. In this research, the project benefits from the collaboration of the BC Ministry of Health and the University of British Columbia to develop evidence-based best practices for the management of BC WDS.