What Is Still Needed for Drinking Water Protection in Ontario

The work currently underway in Ontario through such laws as the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 and the Clean Water Act, 2006 is doing much to ensure our drinking water is better protected.

However, a number of things are still needed in order to make drinking water protection even more effective.

The Source Protection Planning Process

  • We recommend further funding commitments for the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program beyond 2012, when the program is scheduled to end.
  • We recommend further funding commitments for Source Protection Plan implementation, from 2012.
  • We recommend ensuring that resources remain available to Conservation Authorities, municipalities and the public for monitoring source protection implementation beyond 2012 and the approval of Source Protection Plans.
  • We recommend funding commitments for municipalities to ensure that they are able to comply with Clean Water Act regulations.
  • We recommend maintaining outreach and education on source protection to 2012 and beyond, including its integration into the Ontario school curriculum.
  • Source Protection, Climate Change and Water Resources Management
  • We recommend more integration of climate change risks into source protection planning.
  • We recommend a stronger integration of source protection and other water resources management efforts. These efforts should all be undertaken on a watershed basis.

Source Protection and the Great Lakes

  • Under section 83 of the Clean Water Act, the Ontario Minister of the Environment can create a Great Lakes advisory committee or committees. Such a committee or committees would provide the Minister with advice on matters relating to the use of the Great Lakes as a source of drinking water.

    To assist with source protection efforts on the Great Lakes, we recommend the establishment of a Great Lakes advisory committee. We encourage the Minister to establish a Great Lakes committee as soon as possible, so that its findings and advice to the Minister can inform the source protection planning process at the earliest possible opportunity.

  • We recommend the Ontario Minister of the Environment establish targets relating to the use of the Great Lakes as a source of drinking water, as provided for under section 85 of the Clean Water Act.
  • We recommend a stronger integration of Ontario source protection efforts and other Great Lakes programs, agreements and treaties.

Source Protection and Surface Waters

  • We recommend that a more effective way of addressing cumulative and non-point sources of pollution of surface waters be developed and implemented by the government of Ontario.
  • Source Protection and Rural Communities
  • We recommend more source protection for rural communities and families on private well water.
  • We recommend more source protection for First Nations.
  • We recommend more source protection for communities outside of source protection areas.