May 1, 2026
Owen Sound, ON – Protection of municipal drinking water sources in Ontario has improved through technology, infrastructure and oversight. As the activities and industry on the landscape evolves and the climate changes, we must remain vigilant and continue with drinking water source protection measures to ensure that there continues to be safe water available for public consumption. Across Ontario, since the Clean Water Act, 2006 and the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 came into effect this legal foundation has been strengthened by the actions of Source Protection Committees and other source protection/ water professionals. The great progress to date has been made possible with the multiple layers of strong support and direct involvement of landowners, municipalities, agricultural and industry sectors, as well as other environmental and health related stakeholder groups. When everyone cares about the quality and protection of shared water sources, the ripple effect is a safe sustainable water supply.
With support from the province to update technical work, local Karst features are being studied to better understand how and where water moves in these area of our region. The Committee continues to advocate for stewardship funding to keep pace with new technical rules or new areas affected by plan policies in order to get buy-in from landowners in these areas, who may not have been eligible during previous years.
Furthermore, our Committee is committed to continuing to work with municipalities and local health authorities across the Region to apply similar approaches to protecting private and non-municipal drinking water systems through Provincial best management guidance materials.
Each year source protection areas/regions review their source protection plans to ensure they are being effective. The local activities and potential threats are routinely being monitored and inspected and individuals can feel confident, they are doing the right things to protect our shared drinking water sources. For 2026, we continue to strive forward, to learn more about our water sources in Karst areas, to continue to monitor property owner practices in the areas around drinking water sources and share education resources.
The following are highlights from the Annual Progress Report for 2025:
• In 2025, 9 Risk Management Plans were renewed or newly established across the Region, and an additional 25 were reviewed by Risk Management Inspector.
• There were 50 inspections carried out by Risk Management Inspectors for prohibited or regulated activities, with a 100% compliance rate
• 52 screening notices were issued in 2025
• Of the 21 municipalities required to complete the Official Plan conformity exercise, 100% have amended or are in the process of amending their Official Plans (20 fully implemented and 1 in-progress). Of the 17 municipalities required to complete the Zoning by-law conformity exercise, 100% have amended or are in the process of amending their Zoning by-laws.
• 100% of septic inspections have been completed as required under the Clean Water Act and Building Code Act within vulnerable source protection areas. In 2025, 34 septic systems were inspected, 19 of which required minor maintenance and 1 replaced. Staff have connected with municipalities to ensure ongoing mandatory septic inspections are completed as required. An increased number of inspections scheduled for 2026 as part of the second round. Septic systems are required to be inspected once every 5 years within vulnerable source protection areas.
You may view or download this report at https://home.waterprotection.ca/resources-archive/publications/ or from the Resources Tab or contact those below.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dick Hibma, Source Protection Committee Chair – Acting, mail@waterprotection.ca
Carl Seider, Project Manager, c.seider@waterprotection.ca or 519-470-3000
Background:
Drinking Water Source Protection is a program governed by legislation and regulations of the Clean Water Act, 2006. The Source Protection Plan is a science-based document that was developed locally and written for this Source Protection Region. The Source Protection Plan was approved by the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change on October 16, 2015. Policies in the plan became effective on July 1, 2016.
The Saugeen, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula source protection region contains 38 municipal residential drinking water systems; 29 systems draw water from a groundwater source (an aquifer), 8 systems draw water from a surface water source, and 1 system combines groundwater and surface water. Policies in the Source Protection Plan only apply in specific areas, for significant drinking water threat activities as per circumstances so that those activities do not become significant or impact local municipal sources of drinking water.
The purpose of the Clean Water Act, 2006 is to protect existing and future sources of drinking water from contamination or depletion. The policies in the Source Protection Plan manage activities that could be a risk to municipal drinking water sources. The Act relies on existing legislation, regulations and processes to manage risks. Where there is a conflict between pieces of legislation – the one that is more protective of drinking water applies.