Source water is the water from lakes, rivers (surface water), and underground aquifers (groundwater) that all Ontarians rely on for their drinking water.
The Clean Water Act was developed in response to recommendations from the Walkerton Inquiry to protect municipal drinking water sources. Under the Clean Water Act, policies that manage land-based activity that are a threat to municipal water sources and are set out in 22 Source Protection Plans across the Province.
Locally, the Trent Source Protection Plan was approved by the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks and came into effect January 1, 2015. The policies in this Plan apply to Vulnerable Areas across the Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region, which includes the Otonabee-Peterborough Source Protection Area.
Vulnerable Areas
The Clean Water Act applies to Vulnerable Areas. The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks has identified activities that are a drinking water threat and the vulnerable areas where they may occur. Vulnerable areas for drinking water that comes from surface water sources are called Intake Protection Zones and from groundwater sources are called Wellhead Protection Areas. Fact sheets for each municipal drinking water system in the Otonabee-Peterborough Source Protection Area are provided for your reference.
When to Contact the Risk Management Official
If you are applying for a building permit or Planning Act approval AND your property is in a Vulnerable Area, you will first need to apply for a Notice from the Risk Management Official. Your municipality will require that you provide them with a copy of this Notice before any approvals are issued.
The Risk Management Official reviews proposed development in Vulnerable areas to identify potential threats and ensure compliance with applicable Trent Source Protection Plan policies. Based on this review, the Risk Management Official will issue one of the following:
- A Notice stating there is no Threat OR
- A Notice stating there is a Threat and a Risk Management Plan is in effect OR
- A letter stating there is a Threat and the activity is prohibited
How do I Apply for a Clean Water Act Notice?
To obtain a Notice, complete and submit an Restricted Land Use Notice Application to engage in an activity in a vulnerable area for a drinking water supply.
Risk Management Official / Risk Management Inspector
Otonabee Region Conservation Authority
250 Milroy Drive, Peterborough, ON K9H 7M9
T: 705-745-5791 x 219 F: 705-745-7488
tcox@otonabeeconservation.com
What is a Risk Management Plan (RMP)?
A Risk Management Plan is a site-specific agreement that is negotiated between the Risk Management Official and the individual who is, or will be, engaged in an activity which poses a threat the municipal drinking water source.
A Risk Management Plan provides the written assurance that all reasonable measures are in place to protect the municipal drinking water sources.
For more information, please contact:
Risk Management Official / Risk Management Inspector
Otonabee Region Conservation Authority
250 Milroy Drive, Peterborough, ON K9H 7M9
T: 705-745-5791 x 219 F: 705-745-7488
tcox@otonabeeconservation.com