Approved amendments to the Maitland Valley Assessment Report and associated Maitland Valley Source Protection Plan

The Ontario government is committed to safeguarding our lakes, waterways, and groundwater supply for present and future generations. To maintain the protection of municipal drinking water sources in both the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh and the Township of Huron-Kinloss, the Minister has recently approved amendments to the Maitland Valley Assessment Report and associated Maitland Valley Source Protection Plan. These amendments were initiated and recommended by the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee.

Through collaboration with our partners, our robust source protection framework will continue to uphold high safety standards for Ontario’s drinking water, ensuring that water sources across the province remain safeguarded or generations to come.

Amendments to the assessment report and source protection plan

These changes to the Maitland Valley Assessment Report and Maitland Valley Source Protection Plan approve:

• the use of one new municipal drinking water well for the Century Heights drinking water system
• an increase in water taking from one of the existing wells in the Lucknow drinking water system.

The vulnerable area mapping for both systems have been updated, while the previously approved policies in the Maitland Valley Source Protection Plan remain unchanged. These existing policies will continue to apply to the updated vulnerable areas.

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

These amendments take effect upon the posting of the Minister’s approval on the Environmental Registry.

Other public consultation opportunities

The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Authority held consultations during the development of these amendments. They invited comments from:

• implementing bodies (including the provincial government and local municipalities)
• the public and implicated landowners
• the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
• indigenous communities including Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, Historic Saugeen Metis, Saugeen First Nation, and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation

The public consultation on the proposed amendments took place from February 7 to March 14, 2024.

The source protection authority carefully reviewed and addressed comments received, making necessary revisions, where needed, before submitting the proposed amendments to the Ministry for approval. The comments were minor in nature, primarily seeking clarification on the potential impacts of the proposed changes. The Ministry also conducted a thorough review of the comments received during the process and has no concerns.

The approved amendments to the Maitland Valley Assessment Report and the associated Maitland Valley Source Protection Plan are available on the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Authority’s website.

Other information

The Minister has determined that the legal and regulatory requirements outlined under the Clean Water Act, 2006 have been met. Additionally, the comments received by the source protection authority during consultation on the Maitland Valley Assessment Report and Maitland Valley Source Protection Plan have been adequately considered and appropriately addressed.