Government of New Brunswick

Bulk Water Safety for Water Haulers

Important Information for the safe transport of potable water

Key Message

In New Brunswick, bulk water trucks are not provincially regulated. Delivering bulk water to wells or storage tanks to be used as potable water can be unsafe and pose health risks if not done properly. Safe bulk water requires proper source, treatment, transport, storage, and distribution.

As a hauler, it is your responsibility to ensure safe practices are followed to keep the water safe for human consumption.

Your Responsibilities

Source & Treatment

  • Only use water from a provincially approved municipal drinking water system. These are public systems licensed by the province, treated, and regularly tested to meet Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines.
  • Keep chlorine residual levels at ≥0.2 mg/L during transport and delivery.
  • Check chlorine residual levels on-site using a colorimeter before transferring water into the well or tank.

Transportation & Equipment

  • Tanks should be used only for transporting drinking water.
  • Always keep tanks and delivery equipment clean and sanitary.
  • If tanks were used for other food or drink products, they must be cleaned and disinfected before use. Never use tanks that have contained materials not fit for human consumption to deliver water.
  • Tanks or any equipment that is in contact with water must be made of or lined with food-grade material and be dedicated to drinking.
  • Only use food-grade lubricants.
  • Tanks must be cleaned, disinfected and water tested regularly to demonstrate the water is potable.

Sanitary Practices

  • Hoses, connections, and fittings must be clean, disinfected with a chlorine solution regularly, capped when not in use and stored and handled in a clean and sanitary manner.

Cross-Contamination Prevention

  • Never put hoses directly into wells.
  • Always use an air gap or backflow prevention device.

Record Keeping

Keep written records of:

  • Chlorine residual monitoring
  • Tank cleaning and disinfection
  • Equipment maintenance
  • Records must be available to a Public Health Inspector on request.