Approved amendments to the Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region’s assessment reports and source protection plan

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 drinking water sources continue to be protected in the Hamlet of Blackstock, within the Township of Scugog in the Region of Durham, the Minister has approved amendments to the Trent Assessment Report and the Trent Source Protection Plan. These amendments were submitted by the Lower Trent Source Protection Authority, the lead source protection authority in the Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region.

These changes enhance protections for sources of drinking water by ensuring that water quality policies and protections are based on current science and modeling.

Working with our partners, our strong protection framework will continue to help ensure Ontario’s drinking water is held to high safety standards and that sources of drinking water in the province are protected for future generations.

Amendments to the assessment reports and source protection plan

We revised the water quality protection area for the Blackstock drinking water system in the Township of Scugog, Durham Region to reflect the addition of one new well.

The amendment makes a slightly larger protection zone and decreased vulnerability scores in some areas around the Blackstock drinking water system based on groundwater models that better identify where activities could pose low, moderate, and significant drinking water threats.

All water quality protection zones can be viewed on the Source Protection Information Atlas.

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

The amendments take effect upon publishing this notice of the approval.

Other public consultation opportunities

The Lower Trent 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 held public consultation on the proposed amendments from July 7, 2022 to August 12, 2022

The Clean Water Act, 2006 and General Regulation 287/07 require the source protection committee to send a notice to the chief of the band if any part of a First Nation reserve is located in the area affected by the proposed plan amendments. However, the source protection authority voluntarily provided notification to the Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, as they have a reserve northeast of Blackstock.

The source protection authority did not receive any comments during the public consultation period.

More information about the consultation process can be found in the source protection plan’s explanatory document on the source protection authority’s website.

The ministry also considered the comments received, if any, as part of the review process, including consulting with other ministries.

The approved amendments to the Trent Assessment Reports and Trent Source Protection Plan are available via the link provided in this notice and on the Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region website.

Other information

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

Please see any related environmental registry notices in the ‘Related links’ section below.