The Source Protection Committee (SPC) has approved this source protection region’s first annual progress report to the Province of Ontario. This progress report documents the achievements we have made together to implement source protection plan policies that add protection to local municipal drinking water sources. You may download this report at home.waterprotection.ca

The first annual progress report was submitted to the province May 1, 2019. It covers the Source Protection activities completed between July 2016 to December 2018, with a deadline of July 2021 to achieve full implementation of the plan’s policies. We extend sincere thanks to staff and partner agencies who contributed to the report, and for their ongoing support for this program. Highlights of the report include:

· 60% of the Saugeen, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula Source Protection Plan (SPP) policies that address significant drinking water threats have been fully implemented.

· Municipalities with vulnerable areas where significant drinking water threat policies apply have processes in place to ensure that their day-to-day planning decisions conform with the SPP policies. 95% of these municipalities have amended, or are in the process of amending their Official Plan to conform with the SPP policies.

· There are 313 on-site sewage systems (septic systems), in this source protection region that are in the most vulnerable areas around municipal wells and subject to the mandatory re-inspection program. 97% of these systems have been inspected in accordance with Ontario Building Code.

· There are 152 drinking water protection zone signs that have been installed in the source protection region. The signs are installed on roads near municipal wells to alert citizens and emergency services that their actions in these zones can have an impact on a municipal drinking water source.

Over 100 risk management plans (RMPs) have been established in this source protection region.

“The Committee has spent more than 11 years developing the Source Protection Plan and its policies. Now, to see them being implemented is rewarding," said Committee Chair Bill Twaddle. "Seeing the annual progress report results and knowing that we are all doing our part to protect our region’s drinking water sources confirms why we got involved in this committee.”

“The great progress to-date on source protection plan implementation was made possible with the strong support and direct involvement of municipalities, agricultural and industry sectors, as well as other environmental and health-related stakeholder groups. It is important to note that there is an ongoing need for financial and stakeholder support and to not lose focus as the program approaches full implementation. While the number of remaining policies to be fully implemented is decreasing, the effort to address all significant threat policies will likely increase over the next couple of years as we approach the established implementation deadlines,” Source Protection Committee for Saugeen, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula Source Protection Region.

Source protection plan policies address 21 activities (such as fuel or chemical storage; among others) that can pose a significant threat to municipal drinking water sources in certain circumstances (for example, in certain quantities and in the most vulnerable locations such as municipal wellhead protection areas).

Source Protection Committee Guiding Principles
We value:

· Comprehensive, science-based research

· Recognizing and engaging all members of the community as valued stakeholders

· Informed decision-making through communication, education and responsiveness to community enquiries

· Being open and transparent

· Sustainable and long-term decision making

To find out more, please visit your local source protection region website at home.waterprotection.ca, review public Annual Progress Report document or phone Program Manager Carl Seider at 519-470-3000.

Thank you for all you do to keep our local municipal drinking water sources safe and clean.

source: media release, Drinking Water Source Protection & Grey Sauble Conservation Authority