The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee (SPC) oversees a science-based planning process, to protect municipal sources of drinking water, that is governed by the Ontario Clean Water Act, 2006. 

The SPC reduces risk to local municipal drinking water sources through implementation of locally developed, provincially approved source protection plans.

Ausable Bayfield Source Protection Authority, on behalf of Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region, seeks applications, from the agricultural sector, to fill a vacancy on the Committee. 

For a copy of the Notice, please visit the source protection region website.

For full details, please download the Notice of Call for Applications for Position Available on Local Source Protection Committee – PDF file

It is anticipated there will be up to four half-day meetings per year.

There is remuneration for time and travel.

For summary of member obligations and full job description please visit the source protection committee web page.

Applicants must reside in, own or rent land in, be employed in, operate a business in, or be employed by a municipality within the Source Protection Region. 

For further requirements under Ontario Regulation 288/07 (Source Protection Committees) visit ontario.ca

To learn more call Tim Cumming, Communications Specialist, at 519-235-2610, or toll-free 1-888-286-2610, ext. 248, or email tcumming@abca.ca

Please submit your application by Friday, July 5, 2024 at noon, local time, to:

Davin Heinbuck, General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer,
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), 
71108 Morrison Line, RR 3 Exeter, ON, N0M 1S5
dheinbuck@abca.ca

Made possible with funding support from the Province of Ontario. Such support does not indicate endorsement of the contents of this material.

DATE OF NOTICE: May 30, 2024

Our source protection region recently completed its seventh Annual Progress Report for drinking water source protection in the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley areas. This was for the 2023 reporting period and it is available on our local source protection website.

The annual progress report outlines the progress made in implementing the source protection plans (SPPs) for the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley source protection areas, as required by Ontario's Clean Water Act, 2006.

The Source Protection Committee (SPC) reviewed the recent implementation results, noting that significant progress has been made since the SPPs came into effect in 2015. 

All of the policies in the SPPs are implemented, in progress, or require no further action. 

In addition, 100 per cent of significant drinking water threats have been addressed. The SPC is pleased to see that that the objectives of the Clean Water Act are being achieved.

The Committee would like to acknowledge the local municipalities, landowners, residents and other stakeholders for their ongoing efforts to protect our sources of drinking water. The great progress made to date on SPP implementation would not have been possible without their support.

At the January 31, 2024 Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee meeting, a motion was passed to send a letter to the provincial Ministers of Agriculture; Health; and Environment, Conservation and Parks regarding the committee’s concern about a recommended phase-out of free public testing, of water from private wells, in the December 2023 Auditor General's report. 

This letter was also circulated to all municipalities in the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region as well as other source protection regions in Ontario. Many municipalities and other source protection committees provided letters of support in response to this letter.

The letter garnered a great deal of interest and media response. Chair Matt Person was interviewed by several media regarding concerns raised about the proposed phase-out of free public water testing for water from private wells. 

In April 2024, Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, responded in the Ontario Legislature and provided assurances that free public testing of private well water for rural households will continue.