Overview of the Quebec Drinking Water Conservation Strategy (SQEEP)

Fresh water covers nearly 10% of Quebec’s territory. According to the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH), this represents 3% of the planet’s renewable fresh water.

And yet, or perhaps because of this abundance, Quebec performs poorly when it comes to drinking water conservation. In March 2011, the Government therefore introduced the first Quebec Drinking Water Conservation Strategy (SQEEP). In March 2019, a new version of the SQEEP was published for the 2019–2025 period. This is the version we will discuss in this article.

We will begin by defining the SQEEP and its commitments. Since the SQEEP relies heavily on the Infrastructure Leakage Index, we will cover that next, before moving on to the SQEEP objectives for Quebec as a whole and the SQEEP objectives for Quebec municipalities. We will conclude with a list of resources available to municipalities to help them meet their SQEEP commitments.

What is the Quebec Drinking Water Conservation Strategy?

The Quebec Drinking Water Conservation Strategy (SQEEP) sets out commitments and measures that Quebec municipalities must implement to achieve specific, precise drinking water conservation objectives adapted to their situation. It also includes objectives for Quebec as a whole.

The SQEEP is based on best practices in water infrastructure management and water resource conservation. Collecting data on the water distribution system is essential to determine whether drinking water conservation objectives are being met.

Measures and commitments of the Quebec Drinking Water Conservation Strategy

The SQEEP includes two groups of measures and commitments: those for Quebec as a whole, which apply to the Government of Quebec and its partners, and those that apply to Quebec municipalities.

Measures and commitments for Quebec as a whole

• Financial assistance for water infrastructure is conditional on the approval of the water balance report.
• The Construction Code will be revised to optimize drinking water conservation in new buildings.
• Drinking water conservation policies for government buildings and for the health, social services and education networks will be renewed.
• The Government of Quebec and its partners will provide support to Quebec municipalities.
• The Strategy’s results will be compiled and published.

Measures and commitments for Quebec municipalities

• An annual drinking water conservation report will be produced and published.
• Water losses in municipal systems will be controlled.
• The necessary means to improve water conservation by consumers will be put in place.
• Water and water infrastructure will be managed sustainably.

What is the Infrastructure Leakage Index?

The Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) (indice de fuites dans les infrastructures, or IFI, in French) is the ratio of current annual real losses (CARL) to unavoidable annual real losses (UARL).

ILI = CARL / UARL

The volume of water distributed includes residential consumption, non-residential consumption and real water losses.

Real losses include leaks from transmission and distribution mains, leaks and overflows at reservoirs, and leaks on service connections within the public right-of-way. They are calculated by subtracting from the volume of water distributed in a system the volumes of water consumed by the residential and non-residential sectors as well as apparent losses.

Non-residential water consumption is measured by water meters, while residential water consumption is derived from the other measurements.

UARL represents the lowest technically achievable level of leakage if all of today’s best technologies were successfully applied to a system in good condition. It is calculated using an empirical formula developed by the International Water Association (IWA).

UARL = (18Lm + 0.8Nc + 25Lp) × P

UARL: unavoidable annual real losses (L/day)
Lm: length of mains (km)
Nc: number of service connections
P: average pressure at the system's representative point (m of water)

Lp = Nc × Lavg

Lp: total length of service connections on the customer side (km)
Lavg: average length of service connections on the customer side (km)

Leakage categories for drinking water distribution systems

The SQEEP defines categories based on the calculated ILI:

• A: Low leakage, ILI < 2
• B: Moderate leakage, 2 < ILI < 4
• C: High leakage, 4 < ILI < 8
• D: Very high leakage, ILI > 8

Objectives of the Quebec Drinking Water Conservation Strategy

As with the measures and commitments, the SQEEP includes two groups of objectives: those for Quebec as a whole, which apply to the Government of Quebec and its partners, and those that apply to Quebec municipalities.

SQEEP objectives for Quebec as a whole

• Reduce the volume of water distributed to less than 458 litres per person per day.
• Achieve a moderate level of leakage, that is, an ILI < 4.
• Maintain water infrastructure and catch up on the maintenance backlog.

SQEEP objectives for Quebec municipalities

The SQEEP sets three objectives for municipalities: an Infrastructure Leakage Index objective, a residential consumption objective and a water infrastructure maintenance objective.

Infrastructure Leakage Index objective

Number of service connections (Nc)	Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) objective
Nc < 1,000	3
1,000 < Nc < 100,000	3 + Nc / 1,000
Nc > 100,000	4

If, over the past five years, drinking water production facilities operated at 90% of their capacity on at least one day, or two water use restriction notices were issued during a drought, or if investments to increase the capacity of drinking water production facilities are planned within the next ten years, 1 is subtracted from the ILI objective.

If the final ILI objective is met, leakage control measures 1 and 2 below must be implemented. If the final ILI objective is not met, all six of the following measures must be implemented:

1. Validate the water audit data
2. Eliminate leaks and overflows at reservoirs
3. Control leaks
4. Reduce leak repair times
5. Measure non-residential consumption and estimate other consumption
6. Manage water pressure

Residential consumption objective

If, over the past five years, drinking water production facilities operated at 90% of their capacity on at least one day, or two water use restriction notices were issued during a drought, or if investments to increase the capacity of drinking water production facilities are planned within the next ten years, residential consumption must be lower than the Ontario average. Otherwise, it must be lower than the Canadian average.

When the SQEEP 2019–2025 was published, the MAMH estimated that average consumption in 2025 would be 177 L/person/day in Ontario and 211 L/person/day in Canada.

If the municipality meets its final ILI objective, only the first of the four residential consumption control measures below must be implemented. Otherwise, all of the following measures must be implemented:

1. Update municipal water use by-laws
2. Raise awareness among residents
3. Lead by example by implementing water reduction measures in municipal facilities
4. Measure non-residential water consumption and estimate other water consumption

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Drinking water infrastructure maintenance objective

The maintenance objective is to maintain water infrastructure and catch up on the maintenance backlog.

Municipalities must plan their drinking water infrastructure investment needs over 10 years, including maintenance and backlog catch-up, service improvements, expansions and new infrastructure.

They are free to determine the level of investment needed to achieve the maintenance objective.

However, the SQEEP 2019–2025 introduced a performance indicator for this objective: the ratio between investments in drinking water infrastructure and actual needs.

SQEEP resources for municipalities

The MAMH and its partners provide Quebec municipalities with a series of tools to help them implement the SQEEP measures and meet their commitments. These resources include:

• The Annual Report of the Municipal Drinking Water Conservation Strategy [Excel file]
• The American Water Works Association Water Audit Software [Excel file]
• The Water Meter Reading Compilation Tool [Excel file]
• The Residential Water Consumption Estimation Tool [Excel file]
• The Flow Meter Accuracy Verification Report Template [Excel file]
• The Model By-law on Drinking Water Use [Word file]
• The Model By-law on Water Meters [Word file]
• The Model Specifications for Leak Detection in Drinking Water Distribution Systems [Word file]

Experienced specialists to help municipalities meet their SQEEP obligations

The Quebec Drinking Water Conservation Strategy relies heavily on flow measurements. Whether to determine the volume of water distributed, residential or non-residential consumption, or the various losses in the distribution system, you are probably already using several flow meters. It is recommended to have your flow measurement systems verified at least once a year.

For more than 30 years, Avizo Experts-Conseils’ specialists have been helping industries and municipalities obtain high-quality flow measurements through accuracy verification, calibration and repair of flow meters and flow measurement systems.

References:

• https://www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca/infrastructures/strategie/a-propos-de-la-strategie/
• https://www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/publications/grands_dossiers/strategie_eau/strategie_eau_potable.pdf
• https://www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca/infrastructures/strategie/outils-aux-municipalites/

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