NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release
April 14, 2003

EVES GOVERNMENT INVESTS ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION TO HELP PROTECT GROUNDWATER

TORONTO — Thirty-two more Ontario communities will have better information to protect their drinking water resources thanks to the Ernie Eves government's additional $5-million investment in local groundwater studies, Environment Minister Chris Stockwell announced today.

The grants for Ontario communities and conservation authorities build on the largest single investment in groundwater resources in the province's history. Since 2000, the Ontario government has invested $19.3 million in local groundwater studies to help gather valuable information on the province's groundwater resources.

"Our government is committed to ensuring that everyone in this province has access to clean, safe drinking water," said Stockwell. "By gaining a better understanding of our water supply, we can plan to protect and preserve it for the future. Sound information means sound decisions can be made."

The studies will provide valuable information that will help the communities develop local source protection measures, and will support the development of a province-wide sourcewater-protection framework. The studies will map sensitive groundwater areas, survey how groundwater is used, and identify wellhead protection areas around municipal wells and potential contaminant sources.

This $5-million SuperBuild investment in groundwater studies builds on previous Ontario government investments in water source protection, including a $10-million SuperBuild investment in 31 similar studies last year; $4.3 million to fund groundwater studies under the Provincial Water Protection Fund; and $6 million to establish the Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network. These initiatives are part of the government's clean water strategy to improve water quality and water delivery in Ontario.

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Contacts:
John Steele
Communications Branch
Ministry of the Environment
(416) 314-6666

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