2011 News
New policies being created to protect municipal drinking water
(May 20, 2011) Another major step forward is underway for drinking water source protection within the Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region (TCCSPR). The Source Protection Committee for the region has announced it is beginning the process of preparing source protection plan policies.
These policies will eliminate or help reduce potential significant threats to the sources of water for municipal drinking water systems within the TCCSPR, including in the Kawartha-Haliburton Source Protection Area (KHSPA). The KHSPA is one of 5 watershed areas that make up the TCCSPR. It covers 5,406 km2 of land and water, including large parts of the City of Kawartha Lakes, Township of Scugog, and County of Haliburton, among other municipalities.
The local committee recently sent notification that work has started on the preparation of source protection planning policies to municipalities, First Nations, and to owners of properties where significant drinking water threats exist.
Forty-five percent of the people within the Kawartha-Haliburton Source Protection Area depend on safe, reliable municipal drinking water. This water comes from 6 surface water systems which draw water from inland lakes and rivers, and another 16 systems which draw from groundwater.
Each of these municipal drinking water systems has been studied over the past few years with a view of protecting them. The technical assessment was primarily completed last fall, but amendments refining the information have been made recently. A new version of the Trent Assessment Reports is now available at www.trentsourceprotection.on.ca and at the Kawartha Conservation Administrative Centre at 277 Kenrei Rd., Lindsay. You are invited to review the revised reports and submit comments to the Source Protection Committee by June 3, 2011.
Landowners can take positive action now to protect drinking water and may receive grants to help cover the cost of their voluntary projects through the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Early Response Program. Eligible projects may include well decommissioning and upgrades, septic system upgrades, handling/storage of fuel, and runoff and erosion protection for agricultural operations.
The Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Committee will be preparing policies to address potential threats to municipal drinking water sources over the next year involving municipal officials and other experts. Residents and landowners will have several opportunities to be involved through a public consultation process taking place through 2011 and early 2012. The Source Protection Plans must be complete by 2012.
This initiative is directed and funded by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and managed by local conservation authorities. Further information can be found at www.trentsourceprotection.on.ca.