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Source water protection means protecting our sources of drinking water from contamination or overuse. These sources of water can include surface water, such as lakes, rivers or streams, or groundwater that supplies our wells.
The provincial government passed the Clean Water Act, on October 19, 2006. It provides the legislative basis for source water protection planning.
Background
In 2000, the Walkerton tragedy showed us how vulnerable our drinking water can be when it is not managed properly. The Walkerton Report called for many changes to how we manage drinking water in Ontario. A number of the recommendations emphasized the need for source water protection. The report also recommended that this be done on a watershed basis by Conservation Authorities.
Multi-Barrier Approach
Source water protection is the first barrier in a multi-barrier approach to protect our drinking water. This multi-barrier approach uses a combination of techniques:
- source water protection
- up-to-date water treatment systems
- reliable distribution systems
- professional training for water managers
- careful and regular testing of our water supplies.
Of course, the multi-barrier approach applies mainly to municipal water systems. In most of our rural areas where people rely on wells or surface water intakes for their drinking water, source water protection is often the only barrier available to protect drinking water.
Source water protection planning keeps our water clean not just for drinking purposes, but also for fish, wildlife and recreation. This is vital to the Cataraqui Region with our abundance of lakes, the Rideau Canal, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
Why are Conservation Authorities involved?
Ontario’s Conservation Authorities are recognized for their watershed management knowledge, and connections to local communities. Conservation Authorities have been asked by the province to coordinate a multi-year planning process involving municipalities, community organizations, industries and residents. The plans will be prepared on a watershed basis, either for individual watersheds or groups of watersheds.
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For a quick overview of drinking water source protection click here to view our 2011-2012 video on YouTube.
Official Notices
Click here to view our Official Notices page.
News
- Assessment Report
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Our Assessment Report was approved in October 2011. It was recently posted on the provincial Environmental Registry website. Click on the official notices link above for details.
- Source Protection Plan
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Preparation of our source protection plan began in fall 2010. A draft plan will be released for public comment early in 2012.
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Find out more about source protection plans and what's involved in their preparation by clicking here.
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