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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

MNR

Strategic

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

Future & Existing

Implemented

The ministry applies a risk-based approach to site inspections to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Resources Act, its regulations and conditions of the licence, permits and site plans.

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. A total of 235 agricultural inspections were completed across Ontario in 2024. With 1 inspection completed within the Central Lake Ontario Source Protection Area. In the Credit Valley Source Protection Area, 3 inspections were completed. In the Toronto Source Protection Area, 0 inspections were complete. Of the inspections in the Central Lake Ontario, 0 inspections identified non-compliance. Of the inspections in the Credit Valley Source Protection Area, 2 inspections identified non-compliance which have since been resolved.

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 undertakes planned compliance activities which may include inspections of Prescribed Instrument holders 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 (2025). Summary of Inspections Conducted in 2025: 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 2025: 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 or Environmental Activity and Sector Registry 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 dormant Permits activated for a provincial highway contract, must include fuel handling and storage conditions in the site plan, as prescribed by regulation. This includes the 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. These requirements ensure that the activity is managed in a manner that reduces the risk of contamination. Every MTO Permit, whether active or dormant, is inspected annually by MTO aggregates staff, and a Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) is filed with 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 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 sites for compliance inspections using a risk-based framework that incorporates source protection areas, with higher priority assigned to sites that intersect with vulnerable areas. The ministry’s inspection framework uses a combination of: (i) diagnostics from past compliance activities, (ii) digital records in the ministry's compliance platform, (iii) quantifying risk factors of locations, facilities, and operators, and (iv) applying local compliance expertise on activities and trends. As reported previously, inspection programs occur on a fiscal year basis, from April 1 to March 31, rather than by calendar year. Data provided in this report reflects inspection activities that occurred from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. A total of 64 inspections were recorded for the ministry’s hauled sewage program in this reporting period. The ministry has a series of operational policies to incorporate source water protection when issuing prescribed instruments, as required by the Clean Water Act. The prescribed instrument for land application of hauled sewage/biosolids is an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The ministry will not issue an Environmental Compliance Approval for land application of untreated hauled sewage in areas where it has been identified as a significant drinking water threat. The ministry continues to issue ECAs to authorize land application of hauled sewage in locations where the activity would be a moderate or low threat with requirements to design, construct and operate in a manner that is protective of the environment and drinking water sources.

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.