Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program
The Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program promotes a multi-barrier approach to drinking water protection. It helps individuals and organizations reduce or eliminate sources of groundwater contamination. This means if one layer of protection fails, say water treatment (as happened in Walkerton), the risks to public health are less.
Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPA)
Each well has a much larger wellhead protection area surrounding it. The star in the centre of the map is the well. The coloured rings show the different amounts of time it takes for water to travel from the surface to the well. The time of travel is: red - 2 years, yellow - 5 years and blue - 25 years. In this area, land-use activities can impact our drinking water. Two-year travel times are how long bacteria and other pathogens can typically survive in groundwater. Since 90 per cent of land in southern Ontario is privately owned, individual citizens need to be a big part of the solution. Only together can we protect our common drinking water.
Clean Water Act Funding
The Ministry of the Environment is providing Clean Water Act stewardship funding to increase awareness and encourage residents to undertake best management practices. The province has created the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program, where $21 million will be made available over three years, starting in the spring of 2008 and continuing until the spring of 2011. The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority is a delivery agent for the program within the Nottawasaga Watershed.
Early Actions Funds Available to Protect Municipal Drinking Water Sources
Of the $7 million available across the province, in 2008-09, $4.5 million will support early actions to protect municipal drinking water sources, namely municipal wellheads and municipal surface water intakes. Specifically, this funding will be available for the following 4 priorities:
1. Decommissioning unused wells and upgrading existing wells
Decommissioning unused wells - including testing, monitoring and technical work on water wells - and upgrading drinking water wells may prevent these wells and poorly maintained wellheads from becoming pollutant pathways to municipal drinking water sources.
2. Septic systems inspections and upgrades
The spectic program will provide funding for the repair, upgrade or replacement of faulty or malfunctioning septic systems that are located within a source water protection area. Malfunctioning septics can add contaminants to the groundwater.
3. Runoff and erosion protection
In an effort to protect municipal drinking water sources from runoff contamination and soil erosion, funding will be available to eligible landowners to properly restore buffer strips and riparian zones.
4. Pollution prevention reviews
These reviews aim to identify best management practices for storing, handling and disposing materials. They are available to small and medium-sized businesses that are located within, or extend into, the source protection area. Businesses that manufacture, handle, store and dispose of materials into water, land or air are eligible.
Funding Amounts
| Program | Grant Rates & Caps |
| Well decommissioning & upgrades Connecting to municipal water (with an old well decommissioning) |
80% up to $4,000 |
| Septic system inspection & upgrades Connecting to municipal sewer (with an old septic decommissioning) |
80% up to $7,000 for eligible projects up to $15,000 for advanced systems |
| Runoff & Erosion Protection - Equipment for improved manure land application - Riparian area management - Erosion control structures (riparian) - Erosion control structures - Land management for soils at risk - Cover crops - Nutrient management planning - Soil erosion and salinity control planning - Riparian health assessment - Improved manure storage and handling - Manure treatment - In-barn improvements - Farmyard and horticultural facilities runoff control - Product and waste management |
Rate and cap dependent on project type |
| Pollution prevention reviews | 100% up to $12,000 |
For more information on Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program grants, please click here.
Who is eligible?
If you are eligible, you will be contacted via mail by the NVCA.
The area of eligibility has expanded in 2009 to include landowners in the following two geographical areas:
1. The 2-year Time of Travel* zone of a designated wellhead protection area (WHPA)
2. The IPZ1 area (1km, clipped at 120m on reaching land) of a municipal surface water intake protection zone (IPZ).
* This refers to the time it takes groundwater and possible contaminants to reach the municipal well, based on the characteristics and speed of the local aquifer.
Maps of the areas of eligibility are now posted on our source protection region's web site at www.ourwatershed.ca.
How do I apply for an Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program grant?
Before you submit an application, please confirm your eligibility by contacting the NVCA staff listed at the bottom of the page.
Well Decommissioning & Upgrades
Applicant guide
Application form
How to care for your private well
Septic System Inspection & Upgrades
Application guide
Application form
How to care for your septic system
Runoff & Erosion Protection
Application guide
Application form
How to protect against runoff and erosion
Pollution Prevention Reviews
Application guide
Application form
How do pollution prevention reviews work?
Case study: Hazardous waste
Case study: Effluent discharge
Case study: Toxic solvents
Case study: Water consumption
For more information on the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program, please contact:
Shannon Stephens
(705) 424-1479, ext. 239
sstephens@nvca.on.ca
