Welcome to The Groundwater Studies Homepage

Groundwater is an essential resource for communities across the province. More than three million Ontarians rely on private and municipal wells. Recognizing the importance of this resource, the Ontario government has invested $19.3 million in 97 groundwater studies since 1998. These studies are being conducted by partnerships of municipalities and conservation authorities.

APPLICATION OF RESULTS AND FUTURE DIRECTION

Ontario leads most jurisdictions in the world with its funding to communities for mapping municipal wellhead protection areas using sophisticated models, and mapping regional groundwater conditions across the province. By the end of 2004, over 95% of Ontario communities that rely on groundwater will have a common base of information on their groundwater resources.

Information on groundwater resources and potential threats is an important first step in effective source protection. The information and analysis generated by these studies will support the development of local and regional groundwater strategies.

Information from these studies is vital in that it will also provide data to support the development of a province-wide watershed-based sourcewater protection framework.

On February 12, 2004, the Minister of the Environment announced the government would introduce a law that would require source protection plans to be developed and implemented locally for every watershed in the province. The legislative framework is outlined in a White Paper that also discusses how stakeholders and the public will be involved at the local level, and ways to enhance Ontario's management of water takings, including improvements to the ministry's water takings program.

GROUNDWATER STUDIES FUNDING HISTORY

Starting in 1998, the ministry invested $4.3 million in 34 groundwater studies across Ontario, to encourage the development of local groundwater protection strategies. Including contributions from municipalities, the total investment in these studies was valued at $6.6 million. The Provincial Water Protection Fund Guide outlines the purpose and scope of these studies.

In 2001-2002, the ministry funded an additional 31 municipal groundwater studies at a provincial cost of $10 million. The summary of study requirements 2001-02 outlines the requirements for conducting a groundwater study under this initiative. The groundwater studies technical terms of reference 2001 outlines the standards and requirements to be used in carrying out the groundwater studies

In 2002, the ministry allocated an additional $5 million for 2002-2003 to achieve the goal of mapping wellhead protection areas in all communities that rely on groundwater and mapping sensitive groundwater areas across all of southern Ontario. Thirty-two study areas were approved for funding in 2002-2003.

Executive summaries and selected maps of completed studies may be accessed from the navigation bar on the left or the drop down list in the right hand corner of this site.