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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

WQ1EF-SA

Nickel District

Significant

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

Greater Sudbury City of - (Municipality)

Conform with

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

Future & Existing

Implemented

The Water Wastewater Task Force was created to focus on the Inflow & Infiltration Program in addition to establish a water efficiency plan. In August 2022, the Water Efficiency Strategy Report was finalized. This strategy was developed to determine why demands in Greater Sudbury have declined in recent years and to project future water demand and production rates in the City until 2031. The recommended measures in the strategy as well as those currently in place will fulfill the requirements of this Water Quantity Action Plan Policy. Examples of actions already implemented include various education and outreach initiatives on water conservation and efficiency measures, as well as the continuation of a groundwater ‘level’ monitoring program in Valley Q1 Area in conjunction with Conservation Sudbury. Current potable water use by-laws and public service announcements are in place to inform of low water levels and the need for the public to make changes to their use as required. The monitoring wells are utilized along with seasonal data to make decisions on the need for water use restrictions and conservation. If the need for restrictions arose, the WWTC Division can ensure residents comply through regular patrol and inspection by the ECOs. The Tier Three Water Budget Model update began in 2021. The report was finalized in March 2023 (Appendix F). The result of the 2012 Golder Tier Three Assessment indicated a risk level of "significant" for model simulations under conditions of drought and future pumping rates. The purpose of the report was to update the previous Tier Three water budget and risk assignment while incorporating the most recent Valley groundwater well network configuration, newly obtained information pertaining to the aquifer, and recent climate and groundwater elevation data. The 2021 Technical Rules Under the Clean Water Act were used for the assessments of the Valley East drinking water systems modelled scenarios. These rules provide a consistent methodology for assessing risks to drinking water sources in Ontario. Based on the results of the model and the methods within the Technical Rules, the quantity risk was determined to be "low". No "significant" or "moderate" drinking water threats regarding water quantity were identified.

Policy Text:

The City of Greater Sudbury shall develop and implement an action plan, including actions to be taken and an implementation schedule, to ensure that water takings from the municipal wells and aquifer recharge reduction cease to be significant drinking water threats.

The action plan may include:

Water conservation and water efficiency measures
Developing operational optimization scenarios and procedures, such as that shown in the Risk Management Measures Evaluation Report; the scenario in this report shows that the significant risk identified at the Linden well in Local Area A during periods of higher demand and drought conditions can be reduced; the same methodology can be used to help determine how the water supply can be sustained under different stresses and constraints
Establishing an aquifer level ""trigger ; to determine when to adjust pumping rates and use alternate operating strategies; this would include completing the instrumentation of all water supply wells and linking them to the operators information system (scada)
Increasing storage to help maintain the sustainability of the system during periods of peak demand
Reviewing the City's annual water main leak detection program to determine if it would be beneficial to consider the water quantity risk in the Valley system as a criterion for selecting areas for leak detection and water main repair
Reviewing options to maximize water conservation and maintenance of aquifer recharge
Developing an education and outreach program to inform property owners about actions that can be taken to reduce water consumption and maintain aquifer recharge (e.g downspout disconnection, low flow toilets, xeriscaping). The Municipality could create an incentive program (such as rebates for example) to encourage these best management practices.
Updating the Tier 3 water budget model to refine the water efficiency and/or conservation action plan as the City evaluates its effectiveness.

This policy will come into effect within three years of the source protection plan taking effect.

Monitoring policy M19 applies.

Monitoring Text:

M19: The City of Greater Sudbury will provide the Source Protection Authority a water efficiency plan/water conservation plan within the required timeline. The CGS will provide an annual progress report to the SPA by February 1 until the plan is submitted.