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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

DC-AEG-NB-9.4

Grand River

Significant

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

MECP - Source Protection

Strategic

Education / Outreach

Future & Existing

Implemented: Policy outcome(s) evaluated - No further action(s) required

The ministry has reviewed and considered the policy. The ministry remains committed to working with all partners and other levels of government to support the protection of the natural environment and the well-being of the people of Ontario. This includes investing and collaborating in the areas of monitoring, research and innovation, as well as advancing practices that minimize road salt impacts on the environment without compromising public safety during the winter months. The ministry provides advice through its Guidelines on Snow Disposal and De-icing Operations in Ontario (2011) which encourage the sensible and conservative use of road salt. In addition, MECP works with many partners including conservation authorities, the winter maintenance sector, Smart About Salt Council, and road authorities like municipalities and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), to promote best management practices, operator training and certification, and road salt alternatives. Since 2018, under the Great Lakes Program and Lake Simcoe Program, the ministry has invested over $1.4M in 11 projects that address chloride monitoring and excess road salt (understanding chloride toxicity, patterns and contributions from urbanized watersheds, groundwater conveyance, and the influence of stormwater measures), including projects that encourage the adoption of sustainable salt management practices on private parking lots, roads, and sidewalks. Furthermore, the 2021 Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health includes commitments by Canada and Ontario to reduce road salt entering the Great Lakes including investment in new science, monitoring and actions to understand the impacts of road salt use. Since 2013, the ministry has supported the Smart About Salt Council to modernize their winter maintenance professional certification program including training on the use of best management practices. The ministry continues to provide a Community of Practice forum to enable and encourage the sharing of information and best management practices among risk management officials, source protection committees, and authorities. Source protection committees and authorities can also refer to materials on the Ministry of Transportation's website (https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-we-clear-ontarios-highways-winter) related to their Salt Management Plan (previously provided to all source protection authorities) and other applicable best management practices.

Policy Text:

To ensure the existing and future handling and storage of road salt ceases to be or never becomes a significant drinking water threat, where the activity is, or would be, a significant drinking water threat, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks should develop and produce educational information targeted to all sectors, and locally distributed by the Townships to provide education and outreach to:

a. Residences and small businesses about the impact of salt on municipal drinking water and what they can do to reduce their use of salt; and
b. Commercial and industrial sectors to address the importance of source protection planning and the impacts of road salt on drinking water sources, with the key message being responsible salt storage and application, and the use of contemporary technology.

Monitoring Text:

N/A