To assist in identifying the best risk management measures and standards to address significant, moderate and low drinking water threats related to on-site sewage systems (i.e. septic systems and holding tanks) locally, the Cataraqui Source Protection Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of the Environment, academic institutions and other stakeholder groups should consider conducting research to determine how effluent from on-site sewage systems is transported and attenuated in fractured bedrock environments. This research is recommended to support the improvement of risk management measures for managing effluent from on-site sewage systems in fractured bedrock environments, whether they occur in wellhead protection areas, intake protection zones, highly vulnerable aquifers or significant groundwater recharge areas.

The research should be completed within ten years of the Source Protection Plan taking effect.

Research findings should be:

considered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in future reviews of the Ontario Building Code
considered by the Ministry of the Environment in future reviews of provincial guidelines for water quality impact assessments for individual onsite sewage systems and
shared with local municipalities and health units for use in their decision-making processes.

N/A.