Approved amendments to the Grand River Assessment Report and associated Grand River Source Protection Plan for the Grand River Source Protection Area

The Clean Water Act, 2006, ensures communities protect their drinking water supplies from contamination and depletion through prevention – by developing collaborative, watershed-based source protection plans that are locally driven and based on science.

The changes proposed by the Grand River Source Protection Authority are to incorporate a new replacement well WDL1R at the Lynden Municipal Drinking Water System and update the wellhead protection area (WHPA) to include updated vulnerability and threats assessments to maintain source protection plan accuracy. New non-binding policies to address future threats related to liquid hydrocarbon pipelines for the City of Hamilton are also proposed.

The Grand River Source Protection Authority held consultations while the amendments were being developed. Consultation was held from November 28, 2024 to January 13, 2025. Pursuant to the Clean Water Act, 2006, comments were invited from:

• implementing bodies (including provincial government ministries and local municipalities)
• the public and affected landowners
• bands with reserves in the affected area

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks reviewed and commented on the proposed technical works. These comments related to water quality issues, technical rationales and to ensure that professional judgments appropriately support the technical work completed under the amendment. The source protection authority considered and addressed comments received before submitting the proposed amendments to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for approval. Accordingly, the authority strengthened its technical approach and rationales, as expressed in the Assessment Report.

The minister has concluded that the comments the source protection authority received during consultation on the Grand River Source Protection Plan, including the Assessment Report, have been adequately considered and addressed, and that the legislative and regulatory requirements under the Clean Water Act, 2006 relating to the amendments have been met.

These amendments take effect upon this posting of the minister’s approval on the Environmental Registry. The approved amendments to the Grand River Source Protection Plan, including the Assessment Report, are available on the Grand River Source Protection Area section of the Lake Erie Source Protection Region website.