Groundwater Studies Website - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is the Ministry of the Environment funding these groundwater studies?
A: Funding of these studies is part of the Ministry’s initiative to protect and conserve the province’s source water supply. Information from the groundwater studies will support the development of a province-wide watershed-based sourcewater-protection framework. The groundwater studies are also supporting source protection initiatives at the local level.
Q: Who receives money to do these studies?
A: Partnerships of municipalities and conservation authorities received funding to support locally run studies.
Q: How long have these studies been funded?
A: Studies have been funded since 1998.
Q: What are these studies looking at?
A: The types of studies under the PWPF (Provincial Water Protection Fund) Program vary and municipalities often choose a particular study type most appropriate to their needs. For example, if a community relies on groundwater as its drinking water source and there is a concern about contamination it may decide to undertake a Contamination Assessment Study. This type of study identifies and assesses the sources of contamination to the aquifers that provide a water supply to the municipality for drinking water and other water uses. Other types of studies include a Groundwater Protection Study, Groundwater Management Study and Groundwater Resource Assessment Study. Refer to the PWPF (Provincial Water Protection Fund, Guide) for more information.
Subsequent studies are now focussing on aquifer characterization, wellhead protection for municipal wells, groundwater use, mapping of groundwater recharge and discharge areas and potential contaminant inventories. Refer to the Groundwater Studies 2001, Technical Terms of Reference for more information.
Q: Which communities have completed groundwater studies and can I view their reports?
A: Completed studies can be viewed by clicking the 'map' option under the 'Select Study Area By:' title in the navigation bar on the left hand side of this page. Click on the map to select a region. Glide the cursor over the regional map. Completed studies with reports will be indicated by (hand icon). Any questions on these studies should be directed to the municipality at the number listed on the study page.
Q: What are communities doing with the results?
A: Depending on the needs and/or concerns of the communities, study results may be used to develop an overall strategy for groundwater protection that can guide the implementation of specific protection measures that are likely to be most effective in the context of particular study areas. For example, study results may be used in the drafting of municipal official plans and zoning by-laws that may restrict land uses in certain areas in a community.
Q: Why would my community not receive funding?
A: The study for your community may have been covered by a larger study. In a very few cases, individual communities declined to participate in this voluntary grant program.
Q: Is the provincial government leading these studies?
A: The provincial government is not leading these studies but has and is providing the funds for communities to undertake these studies. The provincial government has also provided a Terms of Reference guide and a Summary of Requirements guide to define study requirements for consultants, municipalities, conservation authorities, and health units, who are undertaking groundwater studies.
Q: Why is the provincial government not leading these studies?
A: The provincial government is providing guidance in the completion of these studies. Municipalities and Conservation Authorities are best equipped to decide on the needs of their local communities.
Q: What are the potential threats to groundwater supplies?
A: Some examples of potential threats to groundwater supplies include underground storage tanks, septic systems, road salt application and cleaning solvents.
Q: How can I help protect my community’s groundwater supplies?
A: Contact your local Conservation Authority to ask about local programs.
Q: Is money still available from the ministry for groundwater studies?
A: No. The final grants for groundwater studies, based on the ministry's Technical Terms of Reference (November 2001), were issued in April 2003. On completion of these studies, mapping of municipal wellhead protection areas and regional groundwater conditions will be completed in over 95 per cent of Ontario's groundwater-dependent communities.
Q: What is the ministry doing with the results of these studies"?
A: Risks to groundwater resources must be clearly understood before they can be effectively managed. The primary purpose of the studies is to help communities gain a better understanding of local and regional groundwater conditions and their contaminant threats.
Study results are helping participating communities to develop a local strategy for groundwater protection that can guide the implementation of specific protection measures that are most suitable to a particular area. For example, wellhead protection maps can be used in drafting municipal official plans and zoning by-laws that may restrict new, higher risk land uses in certain areas where the source of municipal drinking water may be more vulnerable to contamination.
Once a source protection planning system is implemented in the province, the results and mapping products from the studies will be important tools in developing effective protection plans for Ontario's watersheds. Mapping wellhead protection areas and aquifer vulnerability were identified by Commissioner Dennis O'Connor as key ingredients in a source protection plan.
For questions and comments about site content, call the Public Information Centre at (PIC) 416-325-4000 in Toronto or toll free at 1-800-565-4923.
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