Approval to further protect sources of drinking water in the Long Point Source Protection Area

The Ontario government is committed to protecting our lakes, waterways and groundwater supply, now and for future generations. To ensure that the quality of Ontario’s municipal drinking water sources continue to be protected in the Long Point Source Protection Area, we have approved amendments to the Long Point Source Protection Plan and Assessment Report, as recommended by the Grand River Source Protection Authority.

Protecting Ontario’s water resources is a key commitment in our Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan.

Amendments to the assessment report and source protection plan

The Grand River Source Protection Authority prepared the amendments to help further protect sources of drinking water.

The amendment includes:

• an expanded and revised water quality protection area around the existing wells of the Otterville drinking water system in the Township of Norwich, Oxford County
• addition of a protection zone around the Otterville wellfield where activities on the land are contributing to elevated nitrate levels
• updated source protection plan mapping
• minor edits to policies to improve clarity
• new policies to address implementation timing

In the source protection plan, the existing policies will apply to the updated protection area.

The source protection authority completed the amendments in accordance with the legislative and regulatory requirements set out in the Clean Water Act, 2006 and Ontario Regulation 287/07 (General).

The amendments take effect upon posting on the Environmental Registry.

Other public consultation opportunities:

The Grand River Source Protection Authority held consultations while the amendments were being developed. They invited comments from:

• the public
• implementing bodies affected by changes to the protection zones, including the provincial government and local municipalities
• the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

The source protection authority also held public consultation on the proposed amendments from September 23 to October 27, 2019.

The source protection authority considered comments and made appropriate revisions. We considered comments received through their consultation as part of the review process.

The approved amendments to the Long Point Source Protection Plan and Assessment Report are available via the link provided in this notice and on the Lake Erie Region source protection website.

Other information:

The minister has concluded that the legislative requirements under the Clean Water Act, 2006 have been met and that the comments the source protection authority received during consultation on the assessment report and source protection plan amendments have been adequately considered and addressed.