Tavares Group Blog

A watershed moment – Ontario approves first Source Water Protection Plan

Earlier this year, Ontario approved its first Source Water Protection Plan under The Clean Water Act, 2006. The approval of the Lakehead Source Protection Plan is a watershed moment for source water protection in Ontario as it is the first of 19 Source Water Protection Plans to be approved.

In the wake of the Walkerton tragedy, which left seven dead and thousands more ill, The Clean Water Act, 2006 was developed to ensure access to safe, clean and reliable drinking water for all Ontarians. The approval of Source Water Protection Plans will serve as the first step in Ontario’s multi-barrier approach to ensure our most precious natural resource is protected. The policies contained within the Plans will supersede all Municipal plans and bylaws in order to eliminate or reduce all identified possible source water threats. 450 municipal drinking water sources will be protected once all 19 Source Water Protection Plans have been approved.

In addition to Source Water Protection Plans, the establishment and maintenance of municipal residential drinking-water Quality Management Systems, as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 (SDWA) are equally important to ensure the drinking-water all Ontarians receive is safe. The Drinking Water Quality Management Standard, 2006 (DWQMS) ensures Operating Authorities develop, implement and continually improve a Quality Management System that conforms to the Standard in order to receive third party accreditation. Now, more than ever, owners and operating authorities of municipal drinking-water systems have a vested interest in ensuring their conformance to the DWQMS and SWDA at the risk of being found personally guilty of an offence.

Tavares Group Consulting Inc. provides Drinking Water Quality Management System auditing services for Municipalities and Operating Authorities within Ontario.