What is Being Done - Government Initiatives
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Fresh water is recognized as a valuable resource by all levels of government. The protection and management of this resource is a top priority for a number of provincial and federal government organizations.
Provincial
Ministry of the Environment
Source Protection Planning
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has developed a multiple barrier approach to protecting drinking water. The intent is to protect drinking water from the source to treatment to distribution.
The Safe Drinking Water Act sets out requirements for operators of a drinking water system. These include requirements for treatment, testing, analysis, operational checks, reporting, and water quality standards.
The Clean Water Act addresses the protection of drinking water at its source. The source of water could be from groundwater or surface water lakes and rivers. Technical studies are currently underway in the province to examine the vulnerability of drinking water sources and developing databases of potential existing or future threats. This information will be used to develop comprehensive Source Protection Plans for each drinking water system.
For further information on Source Protection Niagara, check out this website: Source Protection Niagara
For further information on the MOE's water management program, check out their website: Drinking Water Ontario
Lakewide Management Plans
The MOE, in partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has developed a series of bi-national Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs) for each of the Great Lakes. The LaMPs are used to coordinate efforts of all partners in protecting each Lake ecosystem. The LaMPs were developed in the late 1990s and are reviewed and updated on an annual basis.
For further information on these programs or to view copies of the LaMP reports, check out the MOE and EPA websites:
Ministry of Environment LAMPS
US Environment Protection Agency LAMPS
Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs
Nutrient Management Act
As part of the province's mandate to protect drinking water the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), with assistance from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), developed and are implementing the Nutrient Management Act and associated regulations. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that plans and strategies are in place to properly handle, store, test and apply both agricultural and non-agricultural (biosolids) material.
For more information on the Nutrient Management Act, check out their website:
OMAFRA
Federal
Environment Canada
Niagara River RAP
The Great Lakes Remedial Action Plan Program was created in 1987. Areas which were undergoing environmental degradation on the Great Lakes system, were selected as Areas of Concern (AOC). For each AOC a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) was developed to guide stakeholders. The Niagara River was selected as one of the ten AOC for Canada. The plan was initiated in 1989, and involves the following steps:
- Problem definition (Stage 1)
- Development of remedial strategies/actions (Stage 2)
- Strategy implementation and Monitoring (Stage 2)
- Delisting (Stage 3)
The Stage 2 report was published in 1995 and contained 37 recommendations for improving the Niagara River AOC. In 2001 an Implementation Annex was produced, finalizing the responsibility and schedule for implementing the recommendations. The NPCA is currently leading the implementation effort.
For further information on the Niagara River RAP, click here:
Niagara River Remedial Action Plan
Freshwater Website
Environment Canada's Freshwater Website is an excellent resource for water-related information. The website contains information on:
- The nature of water
- Water policy and legislation
- The management of water
- Water and culture
- Information
