Drinking water source protection

Water is critical to all aspects of our lives and it is important that we ensure there is a safe and reliable source of water for all

our uses - now and in the future. The Clean Water Act, 2006 is part of the Ontario government’s commitment to ensuring the

sustainability of clean, safe drinking water for all Ontarians. The intent of the Ontario Clean Water Act is to protect municipal

drinking water sources through assessments based on sound science and develop locally driven Source Protection Plans. As a

result of the Clean Water Act, 19 multi-stakeholder Source Protection Committees were established across Ontario to develop

local Source Protection Plans.

What does the Clean Water Act say about threats to drinking water safety?

The Clean Water Act regulations list 21 prescribed threat activities which can if not properly managed or removed, pose risks

to drinking water sources. The list is available here: http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/source-protection.

Other types of threat activities may also be identified, as needed. The local Source Protection Plans include (a) existing and

future threat activities in the local watersheds, and (b) policies that manage or eliminate the risks posed by these threats.

Municipalities, Conservation Authorities, property owners, farmers, industrial and commercial businesses, community groups,

institutions and the public are working together to ensure local sources of municipal drinking water are protected from these

threats, now and in the future.

Why should real estate agents be aware of drinking water source protection?

As Source Protection Plans continue to come into effect across the province, many potential buyers and sellers of residential,

agricultural, industrial, commercial or institutional properties will become aware that certain properties, located within

protection zones that are closest to municipal groundwater wells and surface water intakes, may be subject to policies that

will manage or prohibit certain activities. You may notice an increase in questions about whether or not a property is located

in one of these protection zones and how this might impact the activities that can be undertaken there. It is equally important

that every real estate agent be aware of these protection zones, local Source Protection Plans and properties that could be

impacted, whether you are acting on behalf of the buyer or seller.

What does it mean if a ‘threat’ has been identified on a property I’m selling?

It means that the threat activity could pose a risk to the source of municipal drinking water. The property owner would have

been notified of this during the development of the local Source Protection Plan. The local Source Protection Plan policies

may require the activity to be managed on that property, or in a few situations, prohibited. It is also important to let a potential

buyer know that certain activities which are not currently occurring on the property, could still be subject to local Source

Protection Plan policies, if the activities occur in the future on that property.

The policies could be implemented by various organizations and agencies such as municipalities, conservation authorities and

public health units. Some activities may require a Risk Management Plan (RMPs), where a Risk Management Official will be

involved in establishing an RMP to address the threat activity. The implementor of the policies will consider existing risk

reduction measures on the property. It is prudent to provide the necessary information to potential buyers in order for them

to understand the implications of buying a property (a) with an identified threat activity, or (b) to which policies could apply if

certain activities are planned to be carried out in the future.

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What are some activities that could be a threat to the source of local drinking water if undertaken on a

property?

There are a variety of activities that pose a potential threat to the quality or quantity of drinking water if undertaken by

property owners/renters, especially when a property is located close to a well or intake. Below are some examples of

activities that could be considered potential threats on residential, agricultural, industrial, commercial or institutional

properties.

Residential:

 Operation of a septic system

 Handling and storage of home heating oil

 Application of large amounts of road salt to paved

surfaces (such as driveways and walkways)

Agricultural:

 Use or storage of fertilizers (chemical, biosolids,

manure)

 Use or storage of pesticides

 Fields where livestock graze and barnyards where

livestock are housed

 Operation of a fish farm

Commercial/Industrial/Institutional:

 Storage or use of dry cleaning chemicals

 Operation of a landfill

 Operation of a gas or service station

 Storage of paints, varnishes, or glues at

warehouses, factories, and retail outlets

 Use of degreasing or cleaning agents at mechanic

shops etc.

 Storage of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl) and

other hazardous waste

I sell properties in more than one watershed. Will the Source Protection Plans for all source protection areas

or regions be the same?

No, but they will likely be similar. Since the needs in one source protection area or region may differ from the next, the

source protection program was designed to ensure that the identification of risks to drinking water is based on sound

science, but established a locally driven process to determine how to best address these risks. When developing policies,

source protection committees took into account the need for local flexibility in order to capture existing characteristics

and approaches in each watershed. Conservation Ontario has facilitated and encouraged collaboration on policy

development among the 19 source protection areas or regions. Source Protection Committees took advantage of

opportunities for consistency (where appropriate) by sharing ideas on policy development through exchange of

information, regular teleconferences, and in-person meetings.

What can I do to help inform potential buyers about the Drinking Water Source Protection program and how

does it apply to them?

Your local Conservation Authority has many resources such as fact sheets, brochures, and other information on their

website that you could use to better inform potential property buyers about the Drinking Water Source Protection

program, whether or not a property is located in a protection zone, and how specific activities may be regulated on a

certain property. They could also schedule an appointment to speak with a staff person at the Conservation Authority

regarding the property and any concerns, they may have about regulated activities.

Where can I find more information?

Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change

http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/source-protection

Conservation Ontario

www.conservationontario.ca

Your local Conservation Authority or Source Protection Region/Area

http://www.conservationontario.ca/uncategorised/143-otherswpregionsindex