Approved amendments to the Thames-Sydenham and Region Source Protection Plan and associated St. Clair Region Assessment Report for the St. Clair Region Source Protection Area

The CWA helps communities safeguard their drinking water sources from contamination and depletion. It does this by requiring the creation of collaborative, science-based, source water protection plans that are locally driven and focused on prevention.

Changes proposed by the Upper Thames River Source Protection Authority are to include the new municipal drinking water intake in the Source Protection Plan and Assessment Report and update the vulnerable area mapping for the City of Sarnia and the Town of Plympton-Wyoming in the County of Lambton.

The Upper Thames River Source Protection Authority held consultations on the proposed amendments. The public consultation was held from March 23, 2026, to April 24, 2026. Draft documents were also available on the Upper Thames River Source Protection Authority’s website throughout the consultation period.

In accordance with the CWA, feedback was sought from:

• Implementing bodies, including provincial government ministries and local municipalities
• Members of the public and affected landowners
• Bands with reserves within the impacted area

Comments submitted to the Upper Thames River Source Protection Authority included a combination of technical, editorial, or questions seeking clarification. None of these comments, aside from those submitted by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, resulted in changes to the proposed updates. Comments from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks led to both minor and substantive revisions to the assessment report.

The authority considered and addressed all comments received and made appropriate revisions before submitting the final proposed amendments to the ministry for approval.

The Minister has concluded that the comments the source protection authority received during consultation on the Thames-Sydenham and Region Source Protection Plan and St. Clair Region Assessment Report amendments have been adequately considered and addressed. The minister has also concluded that the legislative and regulatory requirements under the CWA related to the amendments have been met.

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

The approved amendments to the Thames-Sydenham and Region Source Protection Plan and St. Clair Region Assessment Report are available on the Thames-Sydenham and Region Source Protection Region’s website.