Protecting Drinking Water Sources Across The Province
McGuinty Government Invests In Safeguarding Drinking Water
Ministry of the Environment
Ontario is helping farmers, property owners and businesses across the province take action to protect local drinking water.
In the past three years, the Ontario government has helped more than 2,000 projects remove risks to local drinking water sources, including: inspecting and upgrading more than 1,000 septic systems and closing or upgrading more than 480 wells.
Measures like this help prevent water contamination. It also helps protect this valuable resource so Ontario families can continue to have access to safe, high quality drinking water.
This program is an important part of the government's Open Ontario Plan to make Ontario a leader in water protection and technology.
Quick Facts
- In May 2010, Ontario introduced the Water Opportunities Act, to make Ontario North America's leader in clean water technology.
- Protecting source water is the first line of defence in Ontario's multi-barrier approach to safeguarding drinking water. The Clean Water Act sets the legal framework for communities to develop plans to protect their sources of municipal drinking water.
- This year the province is investing $7 million in the Drinking Water Stewardship Program, which will support hundreds more projects.
- The Drinking Water Stewardship Program also supports research, such as Fleming College's study of floating island technology to reduce drinking water threats posed by storm water ponds. Since 2005, the government has invested more than $175 million to protect drinking water sources.
- Since 2005, the government has invested more than $175 million to protect drinking water sources.
Quotes
Safe, clean drinking water is vital to our health and economy. That is why we are helping Ontarians take measures to protect their sources of drinking water."
John Wilkinson
We all have a shared responsibility for protecting our drinking water. The work that is being done here in the Lindsay area will help our community protect drinking water sources for years to come."
Rick Johnson
We are making it easier for people in the Peterborough area and across the province to help reduce risks to local water sources. Protecting sources is the very important first step in keeping our drinking water clean and safe."
Almost all 36 conservation authorities collaborate with the province to deliver the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program. Through our partnership we work directly with landowners and businesses to implement best management practices, prevent or reduce threats to drinking water and raise public awareness about the importance of protecting water sources."
Dick Hibma