Source Water Protection

Our Project

What does source protection planning look like in the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region?

Drinking water source protection (DWSP) planning in the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley Source Protection Region is a combination of science-based assessment (of watershed features, existing and potential threats and program needs) and active stakeholder participation in the development of effective local plans.

The project is tapping into local knowledge provided through means which include a source protection committee (SPC), local, multi-stakeholder working groups (WGs), a municipal subcommittee (MSC) and other avenues such as information exchange and consultation sessions with stakeholders, public events and a public Internet discussion forum.
Conservation authorities (acting as source protection authorities under the Clean Water Act, 2006), municipalities and stakeholders from major sectors including municipalities, economic (agriculture, industry, commerce) and other (public, environmental, property owners, etc.) are working jointly to develop an effective local drinking water source protection approach.

The local planning project uses the best science, technical data and local knowledge available to make decisions in the interest of long-term protection of municipal drinking water supplies and continues to spearhead new and relevant technical studies for plan development.

The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection (SP) project‚ through municipalities, a source protection committee (SPC) and facilitated by conservation authorities‚ acting in a legislated role as source protection authorities (SPAs), has the responsibility to develop drinking water source protection plans for each source protection area (Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley) as prescribed by the Ontario Clean Water Act, 2006. The local plans will help ensure appropriate uses, safeguards and practices in areas close to sources of public drinking water near municipal wellheads or intakes.

The local source protection committee (SPC)‚ in cooperation with municipalities, public and stakeholders‚ will, over the coming years:

1. Develop terms of reference in consultation with the public and stakeholders [The Ontario Minister of the Environment approved terms of reference for the Ausable Bayfield nd Maitland Valley source protection areas ion June 8, 2009].

2. Prepare sssessment reports identifying vulnerable areas, threats inventories and potential significant drinking water threats. (The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Committee adopted proposed assessment reports on April 28, 2010 and those reports will be submitted to the Ontario Minister of the Environment for consideration following a 30-day opportunity for public written comments to accompany the submission of the reports. Draft proposed assessment reports for Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley source protection areas had been reviewed by the public during a public consultation period between January 5, 2010 and March 12, 2010. Proposed assessment reports were submitted by the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley source protection authorities to the Ontario Minister of the Environment for consideration in June of 2010).

3. Develop source protection plans, including policies to identify existing and future activities which could pose a significant risk, so that risk can be removed. [These will be developed by 2012].

There will also be additional benefits, beyond the immediate mandate of the SPC, growing out of the watershed-based research undertaken by the local planning project. This science will help individuals and groups seeking to improve many aspects of the environment through voluntary initiatives.

The local project developed an engaging and in-depth learning program for members of local, multi-stakeholder working groups so that representatives of local stakeholder organizations, and the broader watershed communities, were able to acquire the requisite knowledge to provide informed input into the development of source protection plans. The working groups completed the15-module learning program and have have provided valuable input to the SPC. Ideas from the working groups have been collected and reviewed by the source protection committee. Some members of the working groups have completed a formal assessment of their learning through Fleming College and have obtained a certificate of recognition. 

The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley drinking water source protection project taps into and increases local knowledge while integrating science-based planning and public input for the best plans possible‚ for the health and safety of you, your neighbours, and generations to come.

What are the roles and responsibilities of the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley Conservation Authorities?

Conservation Authorities, acting in a legislated role as source protection authorities (SPAs), facilitate and support the Source Protection Committee (SPC) so that the SPC can develop its Terms of Reference [completed, approval pending], assessment report(s) and practical, science-based, local plans with stakeholder participation.

Conservation authorities provide decades of knowledge and experience in watershed stewardship and decades of cooperative work with local stakeholders and landowners.

The planning focus is on the four vulnerable areas identified in the Clean Water Act, 2006. The drinking water source protection pans will focus on drinking water source areas close to municipal intakes and wellheads, as well as two other vulnerable areas: highly-vulnerable aquifers and significant recharge areas.

The source protection project has developed data on a watershed scale and the research that has taken place over the entire study area may provide co-benefits assisting landowners in their own efforts to protect drinking water sources in addition to the benefits of the planning initiative.

It is the multi-stakeholder source protection committee (SPC) which will develop the local plans, based on provincial guidance. However, conservation authorities, in their roles as source protection authorities, will be active in supporting the SPC's work.

What has the Source Protection project been doing in the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region?

The local drinking water source protection project has been active developing the technical documents, materials, training and products required to allow the source protection committee (SPC) to swiftly assume its responsibilities for the development of source protection plans.

Here are some of the activities and accomplishments so far:

• Approval of terms of reference, for the Maitland Valley and Ausable Bayfield source protection areas, by the Ontario Minister of the Environment
  
• Approval, by the source protection committee, of proposed assessment reports for the Maitland Valley and Ausable Bayfield source protection areas. (Written comments on these reports can be sent to the Maitland Valley and Ausable Bayfield source protection authorities by Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 4 p.m. local time. The reports, and comments, will be submitted by the source protection authorities to the Ontario Minister of the Environment for consideration.
  
• Development of mapping products related to watershed features
  o Meetings with municipalities, stakeholders and government departments
  o Completion of technical reports related to:
  o Watershed Description
  o Water Quality
  o Water Budgets
  o Survey of Existing Programs
  o Initiation of a provincial pilot project to update water well records
  o Consultation with stakeholders
  o Development of an interactive website for public users, staff and SPC, working group and municipal subcommittee members
  o Development of a learning program to provide working group members with current technical knowledge and understanding in order to provide informed input into source protection planning - participants have completed this 15-module program and some have received certificates of recognition for a formal assessment of their learning from Fleming College.
  o Initiation of development of the following technical reports:
  o Watershed Characterization
  o Water Budgets
  o Prposed Assessment Reports

How do I find out more information about Drinking Water Source Protection in the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region?

The local drinking water source protection project for the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley source protection areas encourages those with questions about drinking water source protection planning to call us at (519) 235-2610, 519-335-3557 or toll-free at 1-888-286-2610. We can also be contacted at info@sourcewaterinfo.on.ca.

We also encourage watershed residents to register as public users of our highly interactive drinking water source protection online forum, an opportunity for sharing questions, information and perspectives. There are 'Rules of Use' posted to guide appropriate and respectful dialogue.

The success of source protection planning depends upon municipalities, stakeholder organizations and watershed residents, and the local project is committed to creating opportunities for your active involvement throughout the planning process. Since the inception of drinking water source protection planning in Ontario the local project has put a strong emphasis on stakeholder information sharing through municipal update meetings and in-the-community coffee houses, site-level visits, telephone conversations, and the development of communications products including fact sheets in response to questions raised by you, television, radio, and print materials, displays, brochures, an adult education program for 100 community working group members, media releases, displays, advertisements and online meetings and teleconferences.

The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Committee has worked hard to inform stakeholder organizations throughout our area of updates and important project developments. If you would like your group to be included in notifications related to drinking water source protection planning please e-mail info@sourcewaterinfo.on.ca or write to:

Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region
c/o ABCA, 71108 Morrison Line
RR 3 Exeter
ON N0M 1S5