Approved amendments to the Trent 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 Township of Cramahe, the Minister has approved amendments to the Trent Assessment Report and Source Protection Plan. These amendments were recommended by the Lower Trent 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.

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 report and source protection plan

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

The amendments include an expanded and revised water quality protection area around the new and existing wells of the Colborne drinking water system.

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).

These amendments take effect upon this posting of the approval on the Environmental Registry.

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 also held public consultation on the proposed amendments from August 12, 2021 to September 15, 2021.

The Clean Water Act, 2006 General Regulation 287/07 requires 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 source protection area affected by the proposed plan amendments. While the Alderville First Nation is the only First Nation in the Lower Trent Source Protection Area, it is not affected by the proposed amendment. A notice of consultation was sent to the Chief of the Alderville First Nation as part of the general public consultation process. No comments or questions were received.

The Lower Trent Source Protection Authority addressed comments and questions received during the public consultation process through direct responses to each stakeholder. No further questions or comments were received, and the comments and questions did not result in any revisions to the proposed plan amendment. The ministry also considered the comments received as part of the review process.

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

Other information:

The Minister has concluded that the legislative and regulatory requirements under the Clean Water Act, 2006 have been met and that the comments the Lower Trent Source Protection Authority received during consultation on the Trent Assessment Report and Source Protection Plan amendments have been adequately considered and addressed.