Markham’s Waterworks a Leader in Drinking Water

Among first to receive provincial Quality Management System Accreditation

MARKHAM - Markham is one of the first municipalities to achieve an important milestone in the management and delivery of safe municipal drinking water. In August 2009, Markham’s Waterworks received the Quality Management System (QMS) accreditation from the Province of Ontario's accreditation body, making it a leader in providing a safe drinking water system for its residents.

“When Markham residents turn on the tap, they can be confident they are receiving a high quality product,” said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “I commend the hard work and dedication of our staff for achieving this professional accreditation, and the added assurance it provides to our residents.”

The process of earning the QMS accreditation involved extensive training and attention to quality, and continuous improvement to its new high-tech procedures, documentation, record keeping and the drinking quality of Markham’s water. Through over 600 hours of training, and over a year of implementation, the QMS process also required Markham to undertake a risk assessment of the water distribution system, and ensure preventative maintenance, emergency contingencies and best practices are in place.

The QMS accreditation also helps Markham in its environmental campaign to reduce the use of bottled water in the community. Reduction in the use of plastic water bottles is an important component of Markham’s waste diversion efforts by encouraging residents to use tap water as a high quality alternative to bottled water.

“Markham’s Waterworks staff members have made great strides in providing high quality drinking water for our residents,” said Councillor Alex Chiu, Chair of Markham’s Community Services Committee. “Our recent QMS accreditation is one of many significant advancements Markham has made in our efforts to enhance the quality of life for residents and to protect the environment. I congratulate our staff for this recent achievement.” Markham is responsible for water distribution, including 961 km of watermains (equal to driving from

Markham to Thunder Bay) and 70,555 metered service connections. Markham’s water supply comes from Lake Ontario, through the City of Toronto’s treatment facilities to York Region which stores, distributes and supplies it to Markham through trunk watermains. In 2008, Markham, through its watermains, distributed more than 34.6 million cubic metres of water to its 300,000 residents.