Policy Interface

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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

TP-05

Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula, Saugeen Valley

Non-specific

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

MECP - Wells

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. Ontario has a strong and robust legislative and regulatory framework for licensing well contractors and well technicians, as well as for the construction, maintenance and abandonment of wells. Recent amendments made to the Wells Regulation (Reg. 903) took effect January 1, 2020. Ontario Regulation 98/12 (Ground Source Heat Pumps) under the Environmental Protection Act outlines requirements for the construction, alteration, extension and replacement of a vertical closed loop ground source heat pump that extends more than 5.0 metres below the ground surface. The ministry will continue to report on any actions resulting from the review of the policy.

Policy Text:

To ensure that any drinking water threat in the vicinity of a transport pathway ceases to be or will not become a significant drinking water threat; or that a transport pathway ceases to endanger the raw water supply of a drinking water system, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change shall give due consideration to implementing legislation regarding geothermal energy systems (future activity).

The legislation would include provisions that:

require that any drilling necessary for the installation of vertical geothermal systems only be performed by a licensed well driller; and
prohibit the installation of open loop geothermal systems (where water is pumped out and not re-circulated); and
prohibit the installation of vertical geothermal energy systems in WHPA-A.

Monitoring policy MP-04 applies.

Monitoring Text:

MP-04: The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change should advise the Source Protection Authority and Source Protection Committee at such time as a proposal for changes to provincial legislation or regulations is brought forward.