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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

SAL-4

Central Lake Ontario, Credit Valley, Toronto

Significant

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

MECP - Source Protection

Strategic

Specify and promote BMPs

Future & Existing

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

The ministry has reviewed and considered the policy. The ministry provides advice through our Guidelines on Snow Disposal and De-icing Operations in Ontario (2011), which encourage the sensible and conservative use of de-icing agents (e.g., avoid excessive use) to minimize their impact on the environment. In addition, MECP works with many partners including conservation authorities, the winter maintenance sector, road authorities including municipalities and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to promote responsible use of road salt, operator training and certification, and road salt alternatives. Furthermore, the 2021 Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health includes new commitments by Canada and Ontario to reduce road salt entering the Great Lakes including investment in new science, monitoring and actions to understand the impacts of road salt use. MECP’s Great Lakes Program and Lake Simcoe Program is currently investing in seven partner projects that: encourage industry to adopt leading practices (e.g., liquid brines) that reduce chloride loadings to waterways, complete studies about chloride toxicity to sensitive aquatic species in Ontario, and monitor to improve our understandings of chloride patterns and contributions in groundwater to surface waters. To continue with ministry efforts to help ensure that our water resources are protected, the ministry held workshops in March 2022 to seek input on the role of best practices in reducing excessive salting on Ontario’s roads, parking lots and sidewalks. The engagement sessions offered a lot of helpful input and insights, and the ministry is considering the feedback to help inform any next steps. The ministry continues to provide an Education and Outreach Community of Practice forum to enable sharing of best management practices related to education and outreach actions among risk management officials, source protection committees, and authorities. Source protection committees and authorities can also refer to materials on the Ministry of Transportation's website (https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-we-clear-ontarios-highways-winter) related to their Salt Management Plan (previously provided to all source protection authorities) and other applicable best management practices.

Policy Text:

Where the application of road salt is, or would be, a significant drinking water threat, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks in consultation with other provincial ministries and municipal associations should promote best management practices for the application of road salt, to protect sources of municipal drinking water in any of the following areas:

WHPA-A (existing, future); or
WHPA-B (VS = 10) (existing, future); or
WHPA-E (VS = 9) (existing, future); or
the remainder of an Issue Contributing Area for Sodium or Chloride (existing, future).

Timelines:
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.