Policy Interface

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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

GEN-3

Central Lake Ontario, Credit Valley, Toronto

Significant

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

MNRF

Strategic

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

Future & Existing

Implemented

MECP – MRDWS – Fuel Handling & Storage

Strategic

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

Future & Existing

Implemented

All municipal Drinking Water Systems are inspected on an annual basis to ensure compliance with the conditions of the licence and permit.

MECP – NMA - ASM and NASM Inspections

Strategic

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

Future & Existing

Implemented

The Ministry undertakes an annual planned inspection program that addresses risk to human and environmental health at Agricultural sites. Inspections target Agricultural Source Material (ASM) and Non-Agricultural Source Material (NASM) as regulated under the Nutrient Management Act. An intentional, core function of the Nutrient Management Act is to keep nutrients, pathogens and contaminants away from wells and surface water which in turn support the objectives of Source Water Protection. Inspections are designed to prioritize operations which could present a higher risk to these features. Each year diagnostics are completed on the results of these various inspections. DWECD inspection programs are run on a fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) rather than a calendar year basis. The IT system used to track inspections under the general agriculture program in FY 2022-23 does not currently include Source Protection information. This issue is expected to be resolved in the future. Given this temporary limitation, we can only provide high-level inspection data. A total of 204 agricultural inspections were completed in fiscal year 2022-23. One or more legal violations were identified in 108 (53%) of the 204 inspections. At the conclusion of 2022-23 fiscal, most non-compliances were resolved with ongoing abatement in only 26 (13%) of the inspections.

MECP – Pesticides

Strategic

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

Future & Existing

Implemented

Pesticide Permits are issued on a seasonal basis and expire at the end of each season. All pesticide permit applications undergo a detailed site and pesticide specific evaluation by the ministry's Regional Pesticides Specialist. Conditions are placed on all issued pesticide permits, as required to mitigate potential risks. Additionally, Ontario has a strong and robust legislative and regulatory framework for the sale, use, storage and disposal of pesticides. The Ministry conducts planned inspections to assess compliance with the terms and conditions of pesticide prescribed instruments and other related regulatory requirements. Ministry staff may also conduct reactive inspections if the Ministry becomes aware of a complaint or concern linked to a particular site. Where non-compliance with prescribed instrument requirements or other regulatory requirements are identified, the Ministry takes action to bring sites into compliance. Various approaches may be used by Inspectors to ensure proponents bring their operation into compliance with legal requirements. Summary of actions taken is not applicable as no prescribed instruments were issued in this SPR.

MECP - WDS-Landfilling and Storage Inspections

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 following response pertains only to the inspections conducted by the MECP for the reporting calendar year (2023. Summary of Inspections Conducted in 2023: The Ministry concluded there are no waste disposal sites identified as significant drinking water threats in Toronto Region and Credit Valley Region. The Ministry continues to review inspection data relative to source protection and adjust inspection targets accordingly to ensure inspections are conducted at least once every 5 years or on a basis deemed appropriate. Summary of Orders Issued in 2023: There are no waste disposal sites in vulnerable areas in these regions, therefore no orders have been issued.

MECP - Wastewater/Sewage Works Inspections

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 MECP has a compliance monitoring inspection program wherein sewage works subject to an Environmental Compliance Approval are included. The inspections conducted by the MECP may be announced or un-announced and are prioritized based on a risk assessment process that includes source water protection considerations.

MTO - Fuel

Strategic

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

Future & Existing

Implemented

There were no existing or proposed prescribed instrument applications affected by source protection policies. All (existing and future) MTO Aggregate/Wayside Permits, as well as existing dormant Permits activated for a provincial highway contract, must contain fuel handling and storage conditions in the site plan, as prescribed by regulation. This includes installation of fuel storage tanks in accordance with the CSA B139 Installation Code for Oil Burning Equipment and compliance with the strict conditions specified by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) Liquid Fuels Handling Code, 2017, as amended. Furthermore, MTO does not allow permanent or long term storage of fuel at MTO permit sites. Such requirements ensure the activity is managed in a manner that reduces the risk of contamination. Every MTO Permit, whether active or not, is inspected annually by MTO aggregates staff and a Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) is filed with the MTO for the purpose of assessing compliance with the Aggregate Resources Act, the Regulations, the Standards (AROS), the site plan, and any conditions of the Permit. Fuel storage is one of the prescribed elements that is verified in the Compliance Assessment Report

MECP – WDS - HS/Biosolids Inspections

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 prioritizes compliance inspections relying a risk framework which includes source protection considerations. The framework is operationalized by a combination of (i) diagnostics of past compliance activities, (ii) digital records in the ministry's compliance platform, (iii) quantifying risk elements onto locations, facilities, & operators, and (iv) applying localized expertise on activities and trends. As discussed in previous reports, inspection programs are run on a fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) rather than a calendar year basis. All reporting provided in responses reflect this monitoring period. Data provided in this year's report - reflects inspection activities that occurred between Apr 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. A broader ministry operational policy (EBR 012-2968) is to deny Environmental Compliance Approval proposals for activities that would be a significant drinking water threat. Combined with the expiration feature in hauled sewage disposal site approvals - MECP anticipates there to be no valid hauled sewage sites operating in vulnerable areas where the activity would be a significant drinking water threat.

MECP – Permit to Take Water Inspections

Strategic

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

Future & Existing

Implemented

The ministry is satisfied that the standard terms and conditions in Permits are sufficient. The ministry’s current program delivery model for proactive compliance inspection program is based on risk analysis. During Year-Start Planning (February-March of each year), inspection priorities are set for each program area by Divisional Program Leads. The Ministry uses a risk based approach to setting each program’s priorities for inspection. Program diagnostics and analyses are conducted as part of the yearly compliance planning process and help inform inspection priorities in the upcoming year. This information along with program specific risk factors is used to identify compliance priorities for each program area. Source protection vulnerability is generally considered as one of the risk factors during risk analysis. District/Area offices use the Integrated Plan direction in conjunction with their own local knowledge and consideration of available resources to select the number and locations of facilities/sites for inspections. Source protection water quantity vulnerable area data is available within the Drinking Water and Environmental Compliance Division of the ministry. Sites with active water taking permits located within water quantity vulnerable areas will be identified and compliance inspections will be planned based on risk analysis during Year-Start Planning process for this Fiscal Year.

MECP - MRDWS Inspections

Strategic

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

Future & Existing

Implemented

All municipal residential drinking water systems are inspected annually in accordance with the Compliance and Enforcement Regulation. Inspections include verification that conditions within the Municipal Drinking Water Licence and Drinking Water Works Permit are met.

Policy Text:

Where an activity requires approval using a Prescribed Instrument, the regulatory authority shall undertake compliance/verification inspections to confirm that any new or amended conditions of approval are, or have been, implemented by the facility owner within 3 years of the date of the new or amended approval to ensure that the activity ceases to be, or does not become, a significant drinking water threat. Ongoing inspections should be conducted at least once every 5 years or on a basis deemed appropriate by the Issuing Director.

Timeline: See Policy

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.