Ontario has approved plans to protect sources of drinking water in the Saugeen Valley, Grey Sauble and the Northern Bruce Peninsula watersheds.
These science-based plans are designed to protect the water quality of the lakes, rivers and sources of underground water that supply municipal drinking water systems.
The plans set out actions to eliminate, manage or reduce potential risks to drinking water sources.
Among other things, the management plans will help communities reduce the risks associated with manure, livestock, road salt, solvents, pesticides, fuel, commercial fertilizers and liquid industrial waste runoff in sources of drinking water.
The source protection plans, developed by local municipal and community partners, will take effect next July 1st.
The Saugeen Valley, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula source protection region consists of three watersheds. The region has 38 municipal drinking water systems, which service 65 per cent of the 160,000 residents. The remaining 35 per cent use private drinking water systems or wells.
Mike Traynor, chair of the Saugeen, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula source protection committee stated in a news release, "Our mission from the start has been to provide leadership to engage the entire community in developing comprehensive, responsible solutions to protect our water resources. The source protection committee is confident that the policies developed in the minister approved plan will protect local sources of drinking water now and in the future."
Ontario has now approved 20 of 22 source water protection plans from areas across the province, and expects to approve the remaining plans by the end of the year.
