Environmental Public Health Services

The Environmental Public Health Program works to identify and prevent environmental public health risks that could impact the health of community residents. Environmental Public Health Officers (EPHOs) provide advice, guidance, education, public health inspections, and recommendations to communities, tribal council entities, and their leadership to help them manage public health risks associated with the environment. EPHOs visit communities to do inspections, investigations, and provide education and training sessions.

Program areas include:

Water quality
Sewage disposal
Solid waste disposal
Food quality
Communicable disease control
Community facilities
Special events
Housing
Pest control
Occupational health and safety

EPHOs identify potential public health risks in communities and provide recommendations on how to correct them.

Drinking Water

Water Quality Technicians and Community-Based Water Monitors conduct sampling of water systems in the communities. This sampling ensures the safety of drinking water by testing for bacteria in the water as well as chlorine residuals which prevents the growth of bacteria.

Environmental Public Health Officers review and interpret drinking water results for bacteriological, chemical, physical, and radiological parameters. They provide advice and recommendations, including issuing and rescinding water advisories. EPOHs work as part of the project management team for new or upgraded community water systems from a public health perspective.

The team works with water treatment plant operators and FHQTC circuit riders to investigate suspected problems with community drinking water supplies as required.

Food Safety

The EPHOs conduct public health inspections of public food facilities and community gatherings such as pow wows and review plans for new and upgraded food facilities from a public health perspective, such as school and daycare kitchens. They deliver food handler training to food service staff, volunteers and community members.

Health and Housing

The EPOHs provide public health inspections of homes upon request. Inspections may include evaluation of indoor air quality, contaminants, mould, pest control, water supply, solid and liquid waste disposal, general safety, structural defects, and overcrowding. They also provide advice, guidance, and recommendations to the community related to all stages of housing, including site and design, construction, occupancy, and demolition. EPOHs work with housing to provide public education about how to maintain a safe and healthy home.

Wastewater

The EPHOs provide site and installation inspections for new and expanding on-site sewage disposal systems. They provide advice and recommendations when responding to complaints of existing on-site sewage disposal systems or decommissioning of sites. They will provide public education to home occupants about how to properly maintain an on-site sewage disposal system and reduce risks related to sewage discharge. EPHOs participate on the project management team for new or expanded wastewater projects to provide a public health perspective.

Solid Waste Disposal

The EPHOs provide public health inspections of disposal sites and transfer stations to evaluate and provide recommendations and guidance on the method of solid waste collection, site operation, containment of waste, types of waste, pest control, soil conditions, groundwater conditions, and leachate analysis. They participate on the project management team and review plans for new, expanding, or decommissioning projects to provided recommendations.

Facility Inspections

The EPHOs work with communities, owners, operators, employees, and users of facilities to help prevent the spread of communicable diseases, minimize public health risks, and reduce safety hazards. Facilities include health clinics, elders lodges, schools, daycares, band offices, and recreational and general facilities accessible to the public. The scope of the public health inspections of these facilities includes general sanitation, general structure, safety conditions, food safety practices, water quality, sewage and solid waste disposal, pest control, crowding, and air quality.

Programs & Services

Health Services

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