Ontario approved the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan under the Clean Water Act, 2006 on August 28, 2014. The Plan will take effect on January 1, 2015. This is the fourth source protection plan (SPP) to receive provincial approval, with 15 others currently under consideration. As discussed in our article on Ontario's approval of the Mattagami Region Source Protection Plan in April, municipalities and companies should take note of this development to prepare for their potential responsibilities and opportunities under Ontario's source protection planning regime.

The Mississippi Rideau Source Protection Region is 8,500 km2 and includes the jurisdictions of the Mississippi Valley and Rideau Valley Conservation Authorities, 31 municipalities and 12 drinking water systems. The Mississippi-Rideau SPP requirements include

  • maintenance and inspection programs for septic systems to meet Building Code requirements
  • risk-management plans for handling and storing pesticides, fuel and manure, existing waste sites and storm water facilities
  • road signs identifying wellhead protection areas and intake protection zones.

The three SPPs approved by the province to date include

  • Lakehead Source Protection Plan – approved January 16, 2013; effective October 1, 2013
  • Niagara Peninsula Source Protection Plan – approved December 17, 2013; effective October 1, 2014
  • Mattagami Region Source Protection Plan – approved April 10, 2014; effective October 1, 2014.

For more information on key considerations for municipalities and companies and the context for Ontario's source protection planning regime, please see Ontario Approves Mattagami Region Source Protection Plan. To access the SPPs and for more information, please visit Conservation Ontario's website.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.