Source Water Protection
For information on the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program, including grants for drinking water protection projects, please click here.
In 2000, the Walkerton tragedy showed how vulnerable drinking water can be when it is not managed properly. The resulting Walkerton Report outlined 122 recommendations for the improved management of drinking water in which the Government of Ontario committed to implementing. A number of the recommendations emphasized the need for managing source water protection on a watershed basis.
Conservation Authorities have a strong track record of partnering with municipal, provincial and federal governments in developing practical solutions to watershed issues. They are recognized for their watershed management knowledge, and connections to local communities. For these reasons, Conservation Authorities have been designated as the lead agency in developing Source Water Protection plans.
Source water is untreated water from streams, lakes, or underground aquifers used to supply private wells and public drinking water systems. Source Water Protection is simply protecting surface water from contamination or overuse. This will ensure that there is enough safe water for all designated uses - now and in the future.
Source Water Protection is the first of five barriers to protect drinking water and human health. This multi-barrier approach to prevent the contamination of water also includes using adequate water treatment and distribution systems, water testing, and the training of water managers and staff. Source Water Protection is a water management process that:
-
Assesses the current condition of sources of drinking water and potential threats to their health.
-
Undertakes land use planning to ensure appropriate land use decisions are made so that future development does not affect the quality of the water.
-
Implements those actions designed to prevent or minimize threats and impacts.
Source Water Protection helps safeguard human health by ensuring that current and future sources of drinking water in Ontario's lakes, rivers and within the ground are protected from potential contamination and depletion. This includes recognizing and reinforcing existing water management practices that help protect source water quality and quantity.
The Clean Water Act will play a major role in fulfilling the provincial government's commitment to ensuring that all Ontarians have access to safe water through Source Water Protection.
The new Clean Water Act will enable communities - and help each and every one of us - to do our part to protect our water supply and keep it safe. This six minute video provides important information on new government legislation that protects municipal sources of drinking water. The video is in WMV format.
The Conservation Authority's role is to coordinate source water protection planning across the watershed. It will provide support to local municipalities, and ensure that municipal strategies are integrated into larger watershed plans. The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority has partnered with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA), Severn Sound Environmental Association, and the Black River Planning area with LSRCA serving as the lead authority. We have been meeting on a regular basis to establish various committees and working groups, to develop agreements, terms of reference, and work plans and to initiate the technical watershed assessment component of the plans. Currently, the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority continues to fine tune the work plans, develop budgets for the long term, as well as perform the initial work associated with the required technical components.
Current Source Water Protection activities include preparing a Watershed Characterization Report and a Water Budget Report. These will be provided to the Source Water Protection Planning Committee as technical background information for the future development of a Source Water Protection Plan. The Source Water Protection Committee will include representation from municipalities, industry, businesses, landowners, community groups and the public. Once the proposed Source Water Protection Plan is finalized the Source Water Protection Planning Committee will then submit it to the Conservation Authority Board. The Conservation Authority then submits the proposed Source Water Protection Plan to the Minister of the Environment for review and approval. This first phase of the Source Water Protection Program will wrap up in 2007.
The Province of Ontario will pay 100 per cent of the costs to complete the source water protection plans. The responsibility for implementing the plans will be shared between the province, municipalities, local agencies and individual water users.
Contact Ryan Post , M.Sc. P.Geo, Hydrogeologist, Source Water Protection Coordinator at rpost@nvca.on.ca for more information.
Additional Information:
The NVCA, as a partner in the South Georgian Bay-Lake Simcoe Source Protection region, is pleased to announce the selection of the Source Protection Committee. For more information, please click here.
Source Water Protection South Georgian Bay Lake Simcoe Watershed Region