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Annual Progress Report shows continued progress protecting local drinking water sources
The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region has submitted its fifth annual progress report. The report shows continued progress in protection of local municipal drinking water sources. The region submitted the report, for the year 2021, to the Province of Ontario, in April 2022.

Read the Annual Progress Report on the local source protection website:  The report’s highlights include:
  • The region has implemented 97 per cent of legally binding policies.
  • The region is in the process of implementing the remainder of policies.
  • The region has addressed 98 per cent of significant drinking water threat activities. These activities include sewage, fuel, chemicals, pesticides, and waste.  
Municipalities have processes in place to address source water protection. 

Nine of our region’s 13 municipalities have updated their Official Plans. The updates now incorporate local source protection plans. The remaining four municipalities are in progress of completing these updates.

Our source protection plans took effect in April 2015. Since then, local risk management officials (RMOs) have worked with the public to establish 115 risk management plans. RMOs completed nine risk management plans in 2021.

The Province of Ontario granted an extension, to December 31, 2022, for completion of the eight remaining risk management plans. 

Local Risk Management Inspectors (RMIs) conducted 33 inspections for prohibited or regulated activities.

In vulnerable areas around municipal wells, the Ontario Building Code requires inspection of septic systems every five years. Municipalities have entered the second round of inspections. They have re-inspected 79 systems (38 per cent) in the second five-year timeline. 

Ontario ministries have processes in place to review provincial approvals for sewage, hazardous waste and certain agricultural activities. The ministries’ processes identify potential threats to our sources of municipal drinking water – aquifers and Lake Huron. 

The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee (SPC) met in March of 2022. The committee reviewed the Annual Progress Report for 2021. The committee determined that implementing bodies are on target to complete policy implementation. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges but implementing bodies have continued their work to ensure municipal drinking water sources are protected.

We extend sincere thanks to municipal staff and partner agencies who contributed to the report. We also thank them for their ongoing support for this program.

Together, we are working to keep our drinking water safe and clean.
A photo of someone properly dropping off household hazardous waste at an approved site.

Watch for source water protection tips
each Wednesday


The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region has joined with Conservation Ontario to conduct a public information campaign on protection of municipal drinking water sources.

The region began the campaign, on social media, on April 13, 2022. The campaign runs each Wednesday until June 1, 2022. Watch for #WaterWednesdays posts each week.

Or, use the #WaterWednesdays hashtag on social media to find past posts.

The spring campaign has eight themes. One theme is managing runoff. Other themes include spring cleaning, testing well water, and properly disposing of household hazardous waste. 

The goal is to increase public awareness about water protection. The campaign provides quick tips on actions citizens can take to keep water clean.

A panel showing the 4Rs principle of nutrient management.

Committee drafts proposed amendments
to source protection plans


The Source Protection Committee has drafted proposed amendments to the source protection plans for our region. 

The committee intends the changes to address plan implementation challenges, incorporate new provincial rules on threats to drinking water, and adjust some municipal wellhead protection areas. 

The region is also updating maps of vulnerable areas such as wellhead protection areas.

We will provide further details once the Province of Ontario completes its initial review.

The committee will post proposed changes on the sourcewaterinfo.on.ca website on this web page: The committee will provide opportunities for people to review and provide written comments.

Stay tuned for updates later this year!

Best practices for source water protection


The Province of Ontario has released new guidance for non-municipal water systems.

This comprehensive resource provides best practices for drinking water source protection.

The Province has posted Best Practices for Source Water Protection on this web page:
The best practices documents helps ensure communities and landowners, in areas not included in a provincially approved source protection plan, have the tools they need to protect their drinking water sources.

Learn more


Find out more about drinking water source protection in your region. 

Learn how source protection planning policies affect you.

Learn how you can help to protect your local sources of municipal drinking water.

Visit our website at sourcewaterinfo.on.ca

Or, call our staff at toll-free 1-888-286-2610.
"We acknowledge and thank the local municipalities, stakeholders, and other implementing bodies for their contribution to this annual progress report, and for their ongoing efforts to implement the Source Protection Plans (SPPs)." 
– Fifth Annual Progress Report (2021)
Copyright © 2022 Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Region c/o ABCA, All rights reserved.


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