For Immediate Release

The Source Protection Committee (SPC) for the Saugeen, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula Source Protection Region has chosen to take additional time to study activities near municipal drinking water intakes in Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. The decision was reached after reviewing the results of recent consultations and comments about the Proposed Source Protection Plan.

“The Source Protection Committee has always made decisions based on the best available science and an understanding of the impact that policies may pose on activities and affected property owners,” stated SPC Chair Mike Traynor. “The Committee wants to work with the local municipalities and stakeholders to ensure that the science is sound, that we are listening to their concerns, and that we understand the impact of policy choices.”

The main topic of discussion are mapped zones near the intakes known as “events-based areas”. The events-based areas show where there is the potential for a spill of a certain material to travel downstream and through the lake to the municipal intake. A contaminant that reached the intake at a concentration higher than provincial water quality standards would be considered a threat.

A study presented to the Source Protection Committee looked at scenarios of gasoline, diesel and sewage spills. Policies were drafted up as part of the Proposed Source Protection Plan and circulated for public comment during the month of February 2015. The Source Protection Committee now wants to have a broader discussion about the areas that should be mapped and then what would be the best ways to address any existing or future activities.

“We will be holding off any decisions about these events-based areas for the time being,” said Chair Traynor. “However, we will be proceeding with all the rest of the work for the Revised Assessment Report and Proposed Source Protection Plan. The Source Protection Committee wants to have the efforts put forth in those areas come to fruition.” The sections on the events-based areas will not be part of the Revised Assessment Report and Proposed Source Protection Plan documents that are to be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change within the next few months. Instead, a future update of these documents will bring in the results of the events-based area studies.

More information on Drinking Water Source Protection is available on the website:
www.waterprotection.ca

-30-

For more information contact:

Mike Traynor, Source Protection Committee Chair, mail@waterprotection.ca 519-470-3000 x 109
David Ellingwood, Project Manager, d.ellingwood@waterprotection.ca or 519-470-3000 x 102 (office) or 519-374-3663 (cellular)