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New video showcases
Drinking Water Protection Zone signs
Dave Frayne shows one of the local drinking water protection zone signs.A new video showcases local signs that alert the public about zones, near municipal wells, where drinking water sources are most at risk. 

Continued positive actions are needed to protect the groundwater in these zones, according to the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee (SPC).

The committee released the new video, hosted by Dave Frayne, on May 26, 2021. 

Dave Frayne is a municipal representative, on the SPC, for the Southwest municipalities group (Bluewater; Central Huron; Perth South; South Huron; West Perth).

Dave begins the video by asking, “Have you seen these signs? They read Drinking Water Protection Zone ... they mean Be Cautious.” 

He explains that the signs are to create public awareness of vulnerable areas around municipal wells and Great Lakes intakes in the Province of Ontario. 

“We have 88 of these signs in our region,” Dave said.

The video features a sampling of those Drinking Water Protection Zone signs that are located in various local municipalities. 

Do you know where your community’s signs are located? If you do, then you know where the municipal water you drink is most vulnerable to spills and contamination. 

The new video is available at this link:  The Drinking Water Protection Zone signs video is the fifth in a series about source protection. 

“The videos explain about water from source to tap,” said Matt Pearson, Chair of the SPC. 

With more than 10,000 social media views so far, the source protection committee members are using videos as an effective way to safely reach out to the public during the pandemic. 

“Hopefully the videos encourage our watershed residents to do their part in keeping our drinking water sources safe now and into the future,” Matt said. 

The committee is planning to create more videos, later this year, featuring other committee members.

The new signs video, and the previous four videos in the series, are on the Ausable Bayfield YouTube channel here:  Links to the videos are also on Facebook and online at sourcewaterinfo.on.ca.

Here are links to the five videos, so far, in the series:
 

Drinking Water Source Protection Videos
"Have you seen these signs? They read Drinking Water Protection Zone ... they mean Be Cautious. We have 88 of these signs in our region." 
– Dave Frayne,
Municipal Representative,
Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee

Water Wednesday social media campaign


Choose non-toxic supplies.The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region has joined, with Conservation Ontario, in conducting a #WaterWednesday public information campaign, on social media, about protecting municipal drinking water sources.

The information campaign began on May 12 and runs each Wednesday until August 18, 2021.

The spring and summer campaign has 15 themes including 4 Rs fertilizer best management practices, green products for spring cleaning, managing runoff from urban and rural sources, awareness of wellhead protection areas among home buyers and realtors, and more.

Use 4Rs management.Watch for the #WaterWednesday posts and please share on social media.

#WaterWednesday posts show ways to protect municipal drinking water sources.

Our actions matter for creeks, rivers and #GreatLakes like Lake Huron. 

Here are some of the posts so far:
  • Use #4R strategy for right place, time, source, rate (e.g. fertilizers, pesticides, road salt).
  • As spring runoff goes up so do suspended solids. Nutrients, metals, other pollutants can hitch rides & reach waterways if we don't manage runoff. Rain gardens and other Low Impact Development help.
  • Opening the cottage for the season? Properly maintained septic systems, heating oil fuel tanks and private wells help protect the health of drinking water sources for all users. To learn more visit: Protecting water
  • Spring cleaning? This #WaterWednesday consider chemical-free and non-toxic cleaning products. Help protect drinking water sources. Reduce use of harsh chemical cleaning products. Check out our green cleaning fact sheet: Green Cleaning

Progress Report demonstrates continued success enacting source protection plans


In April, the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region submitted its annual progress report, to the Province of Ontario, for the year 2020.

This fourth report documents continued progress enacting policies of locally developed and provincially approved plans to protect drinking water sources.

Source protection plan policies address activities (such as fuel or chemical storage) that can pose a significant threat to municipal drinking water sources.

To read the Annual Progress Report for 2020 visit the local source protection website (sourcewaterinfo.on.ca) at this web page link:
Highlights of the report include:
  • For significant drinking water threats such as fuel, chemicals, agricultural activities and waste, 97 per cent of legally binding policies have been implemented.
  • Since our source protection plans took effect in April 2015, a total of 106 risk management plans have been established and 280 inspections have been carried out for prohibited or regulated activities.
  • In vulnerable areas around municipal wells, septic systems require inspection every five years, as mandated by the Ontario Building Code. In the first round of inspections, 99 per cent had been done. Many municipalities in the region have begun their second round of inspections with 55 systems re-inspected in 2020.
We extend sincere thanks to municipal staff and partner agencies who contributed to the report, and for their ongoing support for this program.
Copyright © 2021 Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Region c/o ABCA, All rights reserved.


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