Alberta Health recently issued updated versions of two guidelines that will help assist in identifying the source, treatment, and uses for all types of reclaimed water. These documents provide significantly improved guidance that follows the Canadian regulatory model and are intended to support owners, users, manufacturers, designers, installers, and local authorities having jurisdiction when considering reclaimed water.
Two two updated guidelines are:
- Alternative Solutions Guide for Small System Water Reuse and Stormwater Use: Provides information to stakeholders preparing proposals for alternative solutions requests for water reuse.
-
Public Health Guidelines for Water Reuse and Stormwater Use: Sets water quality targets and provides guidance on how to evaluate and mitigate the risks to health of reusing wastewater and using stormwater. It is intended for municipalities, developers, other government staff and the general public.
The Alberta guidelines for residential rainwater harvesting systems are provided for the safe design, construction, and maintenance of residential rainwater harvesting systems. The guidelines provide information not included in the current plumbing code and support conformance to CAN/CSA 128.1: Design and Installation of Nonpotable Water Systems/Maintenance and Field Testing of Nonpotable Water Systems. The Alberta Building Code and the National Plumbing Code requirements have precedence over these guidelines.
There are no regulations or codes in Alberta to ensure that reclaimed wastewater is used safely. Thus, the government established a reclaimed water working group to develop regulations, water quality, and technical standards for the safe use of reclaimed wastewater. Reclaimed wastewater from any source cannot be used domestically unless it is approved and meets water quality testing and monitoring by the local municipality.
Source: Government of Alberta
