Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment Chester Gillan has announced the publication of a new Homeowner Record Keeping Folder to encourage proper maintenance of water and sewage systems and home heat tanks.
The folder provides a place for homeowners to record and store information about their property, installation of their water and sewage systems and home heat tank, and maintenance carried out on any of the systems. As well, it contains general advice on proper maintenance.
"A high proportion of drinking water quality problems can be directly related to the condition of wells or onsite sewage disposal systems. Another common cause of groundwater contamination is spills from home heat tanks," said Minister Gillan. "That is why regular maintenance of water and sewage systems and home heat tanks is so vital. The Homeowner Record Keeping Folder will serve to remind people of that."
The publication of the Homeowner Record Keeping Folder by this fall was one of the commitments made as part of the "10 Points to Purity" action plan outlined in the Provincial Drinking Water Strategy. Other items in the action plan to be completed this fall were investment in public information materials and publication of a field manual for technical staff to use in site suitability assessment for sewage disposal systems.
Minister Gillan noted the field manual is nearing completion and investment in public information materials continues. Existing materials have been updated and are being translated to French and new fact sheets are being developed, he said.
Minister Gillan said the Province is on schedule to meet the next target dates in the "10 Points to Purity" action plan.
"By spring, we will revise regulations governing water wells and sewage disposal systems, update the site assessment handbook for use by developers in water and sewer servicing, and develop water monitoring and reporting regulations for central water supply and wastewater treatment systems," he said.
"As well, work is proceeding on the other items. For instance, the process of achieving full accreditation for the Provincial Microbiology and Chemistry Laboratories is underway and another hydrogeologist will join the Department in January to work on development of a strategy for municipal wellfield protection."
The PEI Drinking Water Strategy takes a multi-barrier approach to protecting water in Prince Edward Island. It addresses both private wells and municipal water systems and includes actions to protect water at the source, improve system design and operation, and ensure adequate monitoring and reporting.
The Homeowner Record Keeping Folders will be available, in both English and French, through Access PEI sites and Island Information Service. For other information on water issues in Prince Edward Island, contact the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment, Water Resources Division, at (902) 368-5044 or toll free 1-866-368-5044, or refer to the website at www.gov.pe.ca/fae.