More than a decade after deadly gaps in drinking water management killed seven people in Walkerton, Ont., the Yukon trails behind most other places when it comes to protecting drinking water, according to a new report from Ecojustice.

Waterproof 3, the Vancouver-based environmental organization's third drinking water report card, gives the Yukon a D+.

While it has improved its water treatment standards, the territory does not have specific source water protection planning in place, says the report, released Monday.

The Yukon's low grade is a drop from the C- it received in 2006.

"The Yukon has rules that require separation of drinking water sources and potential contaminant threats, which is a step in the right direction,” said Randy Christensen, an Ecojustice staff lawyer and the author of the report.

"But it is in danger of falling far behind other jurisdictions as they begin to introduce more comprehensive models of source water protection planning.”

Waterproof 3 evaluates water policies, programs and legislation across the country. It then assigns the provincial, territorial and federal governments a grade based on how well they're protecting drinking water.

Released every five years, the report also shows how each jurisdiction has performed over time on critical measures like treatment and testing requirements, drinking water quality standards, source water protection and transparency and accountability.

While the Yukon received a D+, provinces like Ontario (A) and Nova Scotia (A-) have been identified as leaders when it comes to drinking water protection.

That's thanks in large part to strong treatment, testing and source water protection programs, Ecojustice said.

In contrast, Alberta (C-) slipped in the rankings because of static treatment standards and poor source water protection efforts.

"The recommendations from the Walkerton Inquiry gave us a very clear framework for evaluating each jurisdiction's efforts to provide safe drinking water,” Christensen said.

"Those recommendations spell out exactly what it takes to properly monitor and protect drinking water, and yet some regional governments, as well as the federal government, still haven't put them in place.”

The federal government is the only jurisdiction to fail outright in Ecojustice's report card for lagging on almost every aspect of water protection for which it is responsible.

"Of greatest concern is the government's reluctance to create rigorous national drinking water standards that protect people's health and safety,” Ecojustice said.

"The federal government has completely failed in its responsibilities to ensure all Canadians have access to clean, safe water,” Christensen said. "Despite the lessons learned from the tragedy in Walkerton, the federal government has failed to pass drinking water legislation for First Nations and lead the development of national water standards.”

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