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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

NASM-5

Central Lake Ontario, Credit Valley, Toronto

Significant

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

OMAFRA

Strategic

Specify Actions to be taken to implement plan or achieve its objectives

Future & Existing

Implemented

In 2016, Source Water Protection updates were made to the nutrient management courses offered by OMAFRA through the University of Guelph. Slides with source water protection information were added and course workbooks were updated to include links to the MOECC interactive maps of vulnerable areas and to the OMAFRA source water protection page. These courses are required for the following certification: Brokers (required for people who transport or store Agriculture Source Material), Prescribed Materials Application Businesses, and individuals pursuing an Agricultural Operation Planning Certificate, Agricultural Operation Strategy or Plan Development Certificate, and Non-Agricultural Source Material Plan Developer certification. Furthermore, OMAFRA continues to make publically available online factsheets that specifically address source water protection including: Source Protection Plans on the Farm (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/19-005.htm), Understanding Groundwater (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/15-041.htm), Managing the Quantity of Groundwater Supplies (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/15-043.htm), and Protecting the Quality of Groundwater Supplies (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/15-045.htm). The OMAFRA source water protection webpage (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/environment/water_swp.htm) also identifies links to tools that individuals can use to find their local source protection assessment reports, which identify the location of the nearby municipal wells where the application, handling and storage of Non-Agricultural Source Material is, or would be, a significant drinking water threat.

MECP - Source Protection

Strategic

Specify Actions to be taken to implement plan or achieve its objectives

Future & Existing

Implemented: Policy outcome(s) evaluated - No further action(s) required

The ministry has reviewed and considered the policy. The ministry continues to support the Source Water Protection - Resource Catalogue for Education and Outreach Policies (https://conservationontario.ca/resources/). In addition, the ministry continues to integrate drinking water source protection messaging into ministry guidance and resources where appropriate. The ministry will continue to report on any actions resulting from the review of the policy. Please also refer to policy NASM-5 in section 2 of the electronic annual reporting database within the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ page for further details.

Policy Text:

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affars are requested to provide to landowners and haulers that have a Prescribed Instrument or Risk Management Plan to haul, store or apply NASM, information on the importance of protecting source water and the location of the nearby municipal wells where the application, handling and storage of NASM is, or would be, a significant drinking water threat in any of the following areas:

WHPA-A (existing, future); or
WHPA-B (VS = 10) (existing, future); or
WHPA-E (VS = 8) (existing, future); or
the remainder of an Issue Contributing Area for Nitrates or Pathogens (existing, future).

Timeline:
T-15: The policy shall be considered within 2 years from the date the Source Protection Plan takes effect.

Monitoring Text:

MON-4: The provincial ministry shall, by February 1 of each year, prepare and submit a report to the Source Protection Authority on the actions taken in the previous calendar year to achieve the outcomes of the source protection policy. Reporting shall include information related to the effectiveness of the policies in ensuring a threat ceases to be, or does not become significant, and any actions required to respond to a drinking water threat during the reporting period.