SWP - Policy Interface
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Policy Id:
SPR/SPA:
Risk:
G-2-TCC
Crowe Valley, Ganaraska Region, Kawartha-Haliburton, Lower Trent, Otonabee-Peterborough
Significant
Implementing Body
Legal Effect
Policy Tool
Threat Type
Status
Comment
MECP – NMA - ASM and NASM Inspections
Strategic
Specify Actions to be taken to implement plan or achieve its objectives
Future & Existing
Implemented
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) does not issue instruments under the Nutrient Management Act framework. All instruments are issues by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA). The MECP undertakes an annual planned inspection program that addresses risk to human and environmental health at Agricultural sites. Inspections target Agricultural Source Material (ASM) and Non-Agricultural Source Material (NASM) as regulated under the Nutrient Management Act. An intentional, core function of the Nutrient Management Act is to keep nutrients, pathogens and contaminants away from wells and surface water which in turn support the objectives of Source Water Protection. Inspections are designed to prioritize operations which could present a higher risk to these features. Each year diagnostics are completed on the results of these various inspections. A total of 235 agricultural inspections were completed across Ontario in 2024. With 0 inspections completed within the Crowe Valley Source Protection Area. In the Ganaraska Region Source Water Protection Area, 1 inspection was completed. In the Kawartha-Haliburton Source Protection Area, 10 inspections were complete. In the Lower Trent Source Protection Area, 4 inspections were complete. In the Ontonabee - Peterborough Source Protection Area, 0 inspections were complete. Of the inspections in the Ganaraska Region, 1 inspection identified non-compliance which has since been resolved. Of the inspections in the Kawartha-Haliburton Region, 1 inspection identified non-compliance which has since been resolved. Of the 4 inspections in the Lower Trent Source Protection area, 1 inspection identified non-compliance which has since been resolved.
MECP – Pesticides
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Existing
Implemented
No pesticide permits that are Prescribed Instruments have been issued in this SPR. All pesticide permits undergo a site and pesticide specific evaluation by the ministry's Regional Pesticides Specialists. Conditions are placed on all issued pesticide permits, as required to mitigate potential risks. Additionally, Ontario has a strong and robust legislative and regulatory framework for the sale, use, storage and disposal of pesticides. Summary of reviews completed, inspections conducted and Orders issued is not applicable as no prescribed instruments were issued in this SPR.
MECP – Pesticides
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Future
Implemented
No pesticide permits that are Prescribed Instruments have been issued in this SPR. All pesticide permits undergo a site and pesticide specific evaluation by the ministry's Regional Pesticides Specialists. Conditions are placed on all issued pesticide permits, as required to mitigate potential risks. Additionally, Ontario has a strong and robust legislative and regulatory framework for the sale, use, storage and disposal of pesticides. Summary of reviews completed, inspections conducted and Orders issued is not applicable as no prescribed instruments were issued in this SPR.
MECP - Wastewater/Sewage Works
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Existing
Implemented
The ministry continues to identify and review existing Environmental Compliance Approvals as a result of source protection plan amendments on an annual basis. For those existing instruments that are screened by the Ministry and subject to existing threat prescribed instrument policies, the existing instruments will be reviewed to determine if the Standard Operating Policy can be applied or if amendments are needed to protect municipal drinking water sources.
MECP - Wastewater/Sewage Works
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Future
Implemented
Where a source protection plan policy outcome is to manage a significant threat to drinking water sources through the prescribed instrument for sewage works, the ministry is meeting the policy’s obligations by including design and operational measures in an Environmental Compliance Approval. To assist in the implementation of this approach, anyone subject to policy requiring management of a significant drinking water threat is required to include in their application a description of the measures necessary to protect drinking water and submit a ‘Source Protection Supplementary Report’ to outline how the activity for the sewage works will be managed so that the activity will not become a significant drinking water threat.
MECP – WDS – Hauled Sewage, Biosolids
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Existing
Implemented
Since May 2015, the ministry screens all (including new and existing) hauled sewage, processed organic waste, and biosolids disposal site Environmental Compliance Approval applications in accordance with Source Water Protection Plans. This includes consideration of whether the proposed activity would be a drinking water threat as outlined in the relevant Source Water Protection Plan under the Clean Water Act. The ministry will not issue an Environmental Compliance Approval for a site deemed as a significant drinking water threat. For sites deemed as a low or moderate drinking water threat, the ministry will consider the application, but may apply additional site restrictions. The ministry’s review and approval process is included in the Standard Operating Procedure (see Environmental Registry No. 012-2968) and continues to be available.
MECP – WDS – Hauled Sewage, Biosolids
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Future
Implemented
Since May 2015, the ministry screens all (including new and existing) hauled sewage, processed organic waste, and biosolids disposal site Environmental Compliance Approval applications in accordance with Source Water Protection Plans. This includes consideration of whether the proposed activity would be a drinking water threat as outlined in the relevant Source Water Protection Plan under the Clean Water Act. The ministry will not issue an Environmental Compliance Approval for a site deemed as a significant drinking water threat. For sites deemed as a low or moderate drinking water threat, the ministry will consider the application, but may apply additional site restrictions. The ministry’s review and approval process is included in the Standard Operating Procedure (see Environmental Registry No. 012-2968) and continues to be available.
MECP - WDS - Landfilling and Storage
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Existing
Implemented
If an approved activity is deemed a significant drinking water threat, the ministry will review the activity and the ECA to determine if changes are needed to meet the intent of the source protection policies. The ministry addresses drinking water threat activities that are regulated by ministry approvals and permits on a consistent province-wide basis.
MECP - WDS - Landfilling and Storage
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Future
Implemented
Since May 2015, the Ministry has been screening environmental compliance approval (ECA) applications for waste disposal site activities to determine if the activity is located in an area where the activity could be a significant drinking water threat. This is called the “primary screening”. Based on a set of criteria, an ECA application is flagged for a more detailed ‘secondary screening’ to determine if the activity associated with the application is a significant drinking water threat.
OMAFA - NASM Plans
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Existing
Implemented
No existing NASM plans were required to have conditions to address this SWP policy in this area in 2024.
OMAFA - NASM Plans
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Future
Implemented
No new NASM plans were required to have conditions to address this SWP policy in this area in 2024.
OMAFA - NMS
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Existing
Implemented
No existing NMS were required to have conditions to address this SWP policy in this area in 2024.
OMAFA - NMS
Conform with
Prescribed Instruments
Future
Implemented
No new NMS were required to have conditions to address this SWP policy in this area in 2024.
MECP - WDS-Landfilling and Storage Inspections
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 following response pertains only to the inspections conducted by the MECP for the reporting calendar year (2024). Summary of Inspections Conducted in 2024: The Ministry concluded there are no waste disposal sites identified as significant drinking water threats in Crowe Valley, Ganaraska, Kawartha-Haliburton, Otonabee-Peterborough, or Lower Trent regions. The Ministry continues to review inspection data relative to source protection and adjust inspection targets accordingly to ensure inspections are conducted at least once every 5 years or on a basis deemed appropriate. Summary of Orders Issued in 2024. There are no waste disposal sites in vulnerable areas in these regions, therefore no orders have been issued.
MECP - Wastewater/Sewage Works Inspections
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
There was one municipal sewage treatment plant identified as being a significant drinking water threat located in the Crowe Valley Source Protection Area. Specifically, the Havelock Water Pollution Control Plant was inspected in July 2021. There were two municipal sewage treatment plants identified as being a significant drinking water threat located in the Ganaraska Region Source Protection Area. Specifically, the Cobourg No 1 Water Pollution Control Plant was inspected by the MECP in 2024, and the Port Hope Sewage Treatment Plant was inspected in 2019. There were four municipal sewage treatment plant identified as being a significant drinking water threat located in the Lower Trent Source Protection Area. Specifically, the Batawa Water Pollution Control Plant was inspected by the MECP in May 2021, Hastings Water Pollution Control Plant inspected in 2020, and the Stonecrest Sewage Treatment Plant inspected in 2022. There was one industrial, private, or commercial sewage works inspection in 2023. Specifically, the Robert G. Lake Generating Station was inspected by the MECP in March of 2023. No orders were issued related to sewage works at sites determined to be significant threats in the Trent Conservation Coalition in 2024
MECP – WDS - HS/Biosolids Inspections
Strategic
Specify Actions to be taken to implement plan or achieve its objectives
Future & Existing
Implemented
The ministry prioritizes compliance inspections relying a risk framework which includes source protection considerations. The framework is operationalized by a combination of (i) diagnostics of past compliance activities, (ii) digital records in the ministry's compliance platform, (iii) quantifying risk elements onto locations, facilities, & operators, and (iv) applying localized expertise on activities and trends. As discussed in previous reports, inspection programs are run on a fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) rather than a calendar year basis. All reporting provided in responses reflect this monitoring period. Data provided in this year's report - reflects inspection activities that occurred between Apr 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. A total of 53 inspections were recorded in the hauled sewage program in this reporting period.
Policy Text:
Any of the following activities would be an existing or future significant drinking water threat, and a policy in this source protection plan
specifies the use of a Prescribed Instrument:
i. Establishment, operation or maintenance of a waste disposal site
within the meaning of Part V of the Environmental Protection Act;
ii. Establishment, operation or maintenance of a system that collects,
stores, transmits, treats or disposes of sewage;
iii. Application of agricultural source material to land;
iv. Storage of agricultural source material;
v. Application of commercial fertilizer to land;
vi. Application of pesticide to land;
vii. Use of land as an outdoor confinement area or a farm-animal yard;
viii. Application of non-agricultural source material to land; and
ix. Handling and storage of non-agricultural source material.
G-2(1): The prescribed instruments for these activities will include provisions to ensure that the expansion of the activities do not result in significant drinking water threats.
G-2(2): The ministry shall prepare, by February 1 each year, an annual summary of the actions it has taken to achieve the outcomes of the source protection plan policies and make that report available to the applicable Source Protection Authority.
Recommended contents of the report include, but are not limited to:
a) A summary of the reviews completed during the calendar year on the Prescribed Instruments for existing significant drinking water threats, including a summary of the provisions included to ensure that the activity(ies) cease to be significant drinking water threats;
b) A summary of the reviews completed during the calendar year on the Prescribed Instruments for future activities, including a summary of the provisions included to ensure that the activity(ies) will not be significant drinking water threats;
c) A summary of inspections carried out and any orders issued as a result of an inspection during the preceding calendar year; and
d) Other content as specified in clauses S-3(3), A-2(2), and OT-1(7)
Monitoring Text:
G-2(2): The ministry shall prepare, by February 1 each year, an annual summary of the actions it has taken to achieve the outcomes of the source protection plan policies and make that report available to the applicable Source Protection Authority.
Recommended contents of the report include, but are not limited to:
a) A summary of the reviews completed during the calendar year on the Prescribed Instruments for existing significant drinking water threats, including a summary of the provisions included to ensure that the activity(ies) cease to be significant drinking water threats;
b) A summary of the reviews completed during the calendar year on the Prescribed Instruments for future activities, including a summary of the provisions included to ensure that the activity(ies) will not be significant drinking water threats;
c) A summary of inspections carried out and any orders issued as a result of an inspection during the preceding calendar year; and
d) Other content as specified in clauses S-3(3), A-2(2), and OT-1(7)
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