Drinking Water Source Protection

The Clean Water Act (CWA) is part of Ontario’s commitment to implement the recommendations of the Walkerton Inquiry. The intent of the Act is to protect existing and future sources of drinking water, as part of the province’s overall commitment to protecting and enhancing human health and the environment. Protecting the sources of municipal drinking water is the first step in a multi-step approach to providing a safe supply of water.

The CWA sets out a framework for drinking water source protection planning on a watershed basis. Under the Act, Source Protection Areas were established based on the watershed boundaries of Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities. In this region, the Upper Thames River, Lower Thames Valley, and St. Clair Region Conservation Authorities entered into a partnership, creating the Thames-Sydenham Source Protection Region. The Region is comprised of the watersheds of these three Conservation Authorities.

The CWA requires local Source Protection Committees to develop science-based Assessment Reports and Source Protection Plans. Plans consist of a range of policies that, together, will reduce the risks posed by threats to municipal drinking water quality and quantity. They determine areas that are vulnerable, identify potential threats, and develop plans to deal with the threats to our municipal drinking water sources.

Locally, the three conservation authorities, as watershed managers, provided information that was used in the source protection planning process and worked with the local Source Protection Committee to facilitate the development of the Plan.

Upper Thames River Source Protection Authority

The Souce Protection Committee is supported by Source Protection Authorities. Source Protection Authority boards follow the same structure as Conservation Authority boards, which are made up of members appointed by municipal councils; however, Source Protection Authorities have additional responsibilities outlined in the CWA. Generally, where a Conservation Authority exists it becomes the Source Protection Authority.

UTRSPA Meeting Agendas and Minutes