Watershed-Based Source Protection Planning

As part of its strategy to protect Ontario’s drinking water from source to tap, the government released draft legislation on the development and approval of watershed-based source protection plans. Watershed-based source protection was a key recommendation of the Walkerton Inquiry.

The proposed legislative provisions are the first part of the government’s approach to drinking water source protection. The provisions have been drafted based on the responses received on the White Paper that the government released in February and are in keeping with recommendations in the O’Connor Report.

Implementation is the next step in developing the drinking water source protection legislation. The government has released the recommendations of two expert advisory committees on watershed-based source protection for public comment.

Resources Key Documents Proposed Drinking Water Source Protection Act     4938e Watershed-based Source Protection: Implementation Committee Report to the Minister of the Environment (November 2004) This report makes recommendations on tools and approaches to implement watershed-based source protection plans including funding mechanisms.   4940e Watershed Based Source Protection: Implementation Committee Report to the Minister of the Environment Executive Summary   4935e Science-based Decision-making for Protecting Ontario’s Drinking Water Resources: A Threats Assessment Framework (November 2004) This report makes recommendations on how to identify and effectively address possible threats to drinking water.   3585e01 White Paper on Watershed-based Source Protection Planning (February 2004) The White Paper proposed an approach for the development of a watershed-based source protection program and a legislative framework for the development and approval of source protection plans. 3585e02 Summary Report: Consultation Sessions on the White Paper on Watershed-based Source Protection Planning March 1st to 23rd 2004 Related Source Protection Links The Source Water Protection Primer (Pollution Probe)

If you are having difficulty accessing a document, please contact the Ministry of the Environment at picemail@ene.gov.on.ca or phone the ministry's Public Information Centre at 1- 800-565-4923, in Toronto 416-325-4000 or by mail to the Ministry of the Environment, Public Information Centre, 135 St. Clair Ave. West, 1st Floor, Toronto, ON. M4V 1P5.

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