Source protection committee to meet
Several new members to attend their first meeting; implementation of approved source protection plans continues to progress
The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Committee (SPC) next meets on Wednesday, September 30, 2015, starting at 9:30 a.m. The committtee for this region meets at the Holmesville Community Centre, 180 Community Centre Line, Holmesville.
The meetings are public and you are invited to observe and to meet your committee members.
Please visit www.sourcewaterinfo.on.ca for any changes.
This will be the first meeting for several new members of the local committee, who have been appointed as part of a scheduled rotation of about one third of the membership.
Short biographies of your committee members can be found here: Your Committee.
The newest members of the committee are: Kerri Ann O'Rourke; Myles Murdock; Mark McKenzie; Bruce Godkin; Philip Keightley; and John Graham.
Municipalities able to request extension for use of implementation funding
The Province of Ontario provided one-time grants through the Source Protection Municipal Implementation Funds (SPMIF) to small, rural municipalities. These grants are helping to offset some of the initial costs these municipalities have to carry out drinking water source protection plans.
The Province of Ontario provided $13.5 million in funding for municipal implementation. Municipalities and counties in the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region received more than $1 million of this funding to help them enact locally-developed plans to protect drinking water sources.
Some municipalities asked the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change for an extension of the timeline to use the funds. The Province of Ontario has responded positively to these requests.
Municipalities that want to request a one-year extension need to email SourceProtectionFunding@Ontario.ca with “SPMIF Extension – Name of Municipality” in the subject line, by October 16, 2015 at 5 p.m.
Other requirements for a timeline extension include that an amendment to agreements be signed by the municipality and the Ministry; an interim progress report due in December of 2015; and a final report due December 5, 2016.
For more complete information, there is an SPMIF frequently asked questions fact sheet or you may contact Jenna Allain, Program Supervisor, or the MOECC source protection branch.
The funds are for eligible municipal activities to implement source protection plans such as establishment of risk management plans; communication with impacted people; and refining information about the number of activities which pose a significant threat to drinking water sources. Implementing land use policies for significant-threat activities; education and outreach to address significant threats; and several other processes related to source protection readiness and implementation are also eligible.
For general inquiries related to source protection plans and policies, municipalities are encouraged to contact their local source protection authority (conservation authority).
The Ministry has scheduled the second of two information webinars for municipalities on Wednesday, August 26 at 10 a.m. After that date, municipal staff are encouraged to send any SPMIF-related questions to
SourceProtectionFunding@Ontario.ca.
Risk management planning moving along
Risk management planning staff are working with people in wellhead protection areas of the Ausaable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region. Staff are contacting anyone who requires a risk management plan (RMP) and negotiating the plans with them.
Staff are very appreciative of the cooperative spirit of people in the municipal wellhead areas and their commitment to reducing risk to drinking water sources. Several risk management plans have already been signed in the region, helping to reduce risk to your drinking water sources.
To learn more about risk management planning in wellhead protection areas of the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region, contact your local risk management official.
If you have questions about risk management plans in the Town of Minto, please contact:
Kyle Davis, Risk Management Official, Wellington Source Water Protection
Email: kdavis@centrewellington.ca
Telephone: 519.846.9691, extension 362
Please contact Jenna Allain or Mary Lynn MacDonald at the Ausable Bayfield Risk Management Office at 519-235-2610 or 1-888-286-2610 or email info@sourcewaterinfo.on.ca if you have questions about risk management plans in these municipalities:
- Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
- Municipality of Bluewater
- Municipality of Central Huron
- Municipality of Huron East
- Township of Huron-Kinloss
- Municipality of Morris-Turnberry
- Township of North Huron
- Municipality of North Perth
Find out more about how to keep your drinking water sources safe and clean
Information materials available online at www.sourcewaterinfo.on.ca
Local people have been active in this region completing risk management plans and making positive changes at home and work to protect our local sources of municipal drinking water.
There are ways you can help to keep drinking water safe and clean. There are ideas that range from properly disposing of hazardous waste to having your septic system inspected.
Municipalities, property owners and tenants, and residents are all working together to keep water clean.
For some information materials for you, your community group, or anyone else trying to protect drinking water sources, visit this page: Information Materials.
If you have an oil tank at your home or place of work you should have it inspected. Visit www.sourcewaterinfo.on.ca for our new fact sheet and brochure on fuel storage.
You are also asked to properly dispose of hazardous waste at approved drop-off sites or depots. Visit www.sourcewaterinfo.on.ca for our new fact sheet on waste.
Additional information about protecting water in highly vulnerable aquifers and significant groundwater recharge areas is now available. To visit a new micro website about these two vulnerable areas visit: Keeping Water Clean.
For more information on drinking water source protection in the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region visit our website or contact us at info@sourcewaterinfo.on.ca or phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free at 1-888-286-2610.