To reduce the potential for transport pathways to increase the risk to municipal drinking water sources, municipalities should consider:

including, as a condition of approval for relevant development applications, confirmation of the decommissioning of unused wells in accordance with O. Reg. 903 of the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA);

municipal by-laws to restrict the creation of new transport pathways such as geothermal energy systems, in areas where prescribed drinking water threats would be significant and where alternative services are available. The municipality, in consultation with the Risk Management Official, shall be responsible for determining exceptions to these by-laws; and
encouraging landowners to improve their wells to meet Provincial standards including making landowners aware of any financial incentives which may be available. If the landowner fails to take appropriate action, the Municipality should notify the Ministry of Environment (MOE) for the purpose of enforcing the standards under O. Reg. 903 of OWRA or other regulations where applicable. Such notification should clearly indicate that the deficiency is occurring in a Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA) and therefore may increase the risk to municipal drinking water sources.


https://dwt.swpip.ca//Link?id=11101

OC-5.01: The County shall provide a report to the Source Protection Authority, by February 1st of each year, summarizing the actions taken by the County to
implement the Source Protection Plan Policies, where required by the policies and not forming part of the report from the Risk Management Official required under OC-5.03.