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Hamilton’s Source Protection Planning Group was developed to administer and meet the municipal requirements under the Ontario Clean Water Act (October 19, 2006) to protect drinking water supplies including municipal wells and lake water intakes.
The Source Protection Planning group is part of the Water and Wastewater Division of Public Works and it works closely with the Capital Planning and Implementation Division, Public Health Department and Planning and Economic Development Department and in addition to Conservation Authorities and neighbouring Municipalities.
Why Source Water Protection?
Because:
• Proactive source water management is part of the Province’s Multi-Barrier approach to Safe Drinking Water;
• Essential to ensure human health for present and future generations. Health risks are identified and evaluated before they become a issue.
• Operational & treatment costs are reduced when threats to source water are managed before they reach Municipal intakes.
• Important for rural communities without access to municipal water distribution system i,e. Flamborough;
• Increased public awareness or concern.
Source Protection Planning ongoing work
The Source Protection Planning group’s main mandate is to ensure long term protection of potable groundwater and surface water resources within the City. Some of the ways the City is protecting our drinking water sources are:
• Source Protection Community Outreach Program
• Developing guidelines and policies for projects that involve water risks
• Developing policies that will serve the basis for source protection in vulnerable areas • Evaluating and commenting on Permits To Take Water (PTTW) in respect to any potential impact they may have on drinking water quality and quantity
• Evaluating proposals for residential, commercial and industrial development and recommending measures that prevent risk to drinking water supplies and vulnerable areas
• Undertaking and manage technical studies in accordance with the Clean Water Act and its associated regulations.
Source Water Protection Authorities
The Source Protection Planning Group provides municipal representation and technical input at municipal meetings and technical working groups as follow:
Hamilton-Halton Source Protection Authority includes Hamilton and Halton Conservation Authority watersheds (Greensville, Carlisle and Freelton municipal wells);
Lake Erie Source Protection Area includes the Grand River Conservation Authority and neighbouring watersheds (Lynden municipal wells);
Lake Ontario Collaborative Study Team includes Hamilton (Woodward plant) and other Municipalities which have drinking water supply intakes in Lake Ontario;
Niagara Peninsula Source Protection Area includes Twenty Mile Creek and Welland River watersheds. Head waters of these major watersheds are within the City of Hamilton.
Overview of Source Protection in Ontario
Overview of Source Protection in Ontario
2000 – Walkerton tragedy due to E-coli contamination
2002 – Walkerton Inquiry Report
2002 – Safe Drinking Water Act
2004 – Government White Paper – the guide for the "Multi-Barrier" approach
2006 – The Source Protection Regions are formed
2006 – Clean Water Act (Bill 43)(see Roles and Responsibilities)
2007 - Source Protection committees are formed
2008 – Technical Assessment Reports
2010 – Source Protection Plan -> implementation, ongoing monitoring and reporting
Source Protection Committees
Hamilton-Halton Source Protection Committee
Lake Erie Source Protection Region
Niagara Peninsula Source Protection Area
Links to useful information
Conservation Halton
Conservation Ontario
Hamilton Conservation Authority
Ministry of Natural Resources
Ministry of the Environment
Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Region
Lake Erie Source Protection Region
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
Niagara Peninsula Source Protection Area
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