Approved updates to the Thames-Sydenham and 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 municipal drinking water sources continue to be protected in the Thames-Sydenham and Region Source Protection Region, the Director has approved updates to assessment reports and the Minister has approved updates to the source protection plan.

The Thames-Sydenham and Region Source Protection Authority prepared these updates to ensure the continued protection of sources of drinking water in this region.

These changes ensure that water quality and quantity 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.

Updates to the assessment reports and source protection plan

The updates to the assessment reports include:

• updated risk assessments for above-ground fuel handling and storage and for hydrocarbon pipelines to ensure the risk these activities pose to sources of drinking water is identified and addressed.
• revised water quality protection areas around the wells of the Beachville, Embro, Innerkip, Mount Elgin, Thamesford, Shakespeare, and St. Marys drinking water systems.
• removal of nitrate as a concern for the Wallaceburg surface water intake.

The updates to the source protection plan include:

• updates to six previously-approved policies for the handing and storage of fuel to ensure these policies apply to areas where they pose the most significant risk.
• updates to two previously-approved policies to ensure that they refer to and address liquid hydrocarbon pipelines as a prescribed drinking water threat rather than a local threat where they pose the most significant risk.
• two new policies prohibiting the generation of agricultural source material though livestock grazing and pasturing, and the application of agricultural source material within the most the vulnerable areas around wellheads.
• revisions to five previously approved agricultural policies to address policy implementation challenges and improve clarity related to managing the application and storage of agricultural source material, non-agricultural source material, the application of commercial fertilizer, and managing the generation of agricultural source material through livestock grazing or pasturing land.
• removal of the nitrate water quality monitoring policy for the Wallaceburg surface water system to reflect the fact that nitrate is no longer an issue of concern at the drinking water system.
• removal of the significant groundwater recharge area from the list of vulnerable areas in which six previously approved policies apply.
• an updated policy implementation timeline of December 31, 2023 for establishing Risk Management Plans (RMP) to address existing significant risk activities in the Thames Sydenham and Region (except for RMPs being established within Oxford County which have a different implementation timeline).

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

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

The updates to the assessment reports and source protection plan take effect upon the posting of this notice in the Environmental Registry.

Other consultation opportunities:

The Thames-Sydenham and Region Source Protection Authority held consultations while the updates were being developed. They invited comments from:

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

The source protection authority also held public consultation on the proposed updates from June 9 to July 17, 2022.

The General Regulation 287/07 under the Clean Water Act, 2006 requires the source protection committee to send a notice to the chief of the band of any part of a First Nation reserve located in the area affected by the proposed plan updates. There are seven First Nations with reserves in the region. They include the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Delaware Nation, Munsee-Delaware Nation, the Oneida Nation of the Thames, the Bkejwanong First Nation (Walpole Island), the Chippewas of Aamjiwnaang (Sarnia), and the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. The source protection committee maintains regular communications with and provides engagement opportunities for these First Nations communities.

The source protection authority considered comments received during consultations, including from the County of Perth, the Municipality of Lambton Shores, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and 16 landowners, and made appropriate revisions. The comments received were administrative in nature and seeking clarification on the updates with no significant concerns raised.

The approved updates to the Thames-Sydenham and Region Assessment Reports and Source Protection Plan are available via the link provided in the Supporting materials section of this notice and on the Thames-Sydenham and Region Source Protection Region website.

Other information:

The Minister has concluded that the requirements under the Clean Water Act, 2006 have been met.