For Immediate Release
Owen Sound – Municipalities and counties within the Saugeen, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula Source Protection Region have received grants from the Source Protection Municipal Implementation Fund administered by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. In total the area municipalities will receive $ 1,518,357 to assist with source water protection planning work that will protect local municipal drinking water sources.
“These funds will be very useful in getting necessary source protection plan implementation work done at the municipal and county levels,” said Mike Traynor, Chair of the Source Protection Committee.
“Guarding against threats to our drinking water supplies is the purpose of source protection. With the help of our many partners on local Source Protection Committees, we are completing source-to-tap drinking water protection.” Honourable Jim Bradley, Minister of Environment. The Ontario government is providing a total of $13.5 million in grants to 189 municipalities across the province over three years.
Below is a breakdown of the local distribution of grants:
Bruce County – $66,363 | Grey County – $58,729
Wellington County – $45,000 | Huron County – $75,000
Municipality of Arran-Elderslie – $100,000 | Town of Minto – $100,000
Municipality of Brockton – $100,000 | Municipality of Morris-Turnberry – $75,000
Township of Chatsworth – $87,500 | Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula – $55,460
Municipality of West Grey – $100,000 | Town of South Bruce Peninsula – $97,428
Township of Georgian Bluffs – $57,872 | Municipality of South Bruce – $87,500
Municipality of Grey Highlands – $80,918 | Township of Southgate – $75,000
Township of Huron-Kinloss – $79,479 | Town of The Blue Mountains – $30,000
Municipality of Kincardine – $52,500 | Township of Wellington North – $94,608
An additional incentive of up to $15,000 per municipality is available to municipalities that work together to implement source protection plans.
The local Source Protection Committee submitted the Proposed Source Protection Plans to the Ministry of the Environment on August 8, 2012 for review. With comments and plan approval anticipated in 2014, the program is moving towards the implementation stage. Municipalities have responsibilities for implementation and these grants will aid them in their preparations to effectively address significant drinking water threats near their municipal wells and/or intakes and keep local drinking water safe.
Eligible Activities
“Funds can only be used to offset costs the municipality will incur in order to fulfil its duty to ensure drinking water threats are managed as specified in source protection plans. Funds may be used towards eligible costs of activities undertaken by or on behalf of the municipality, between Dec. 13, 2013, and Dec. 7, 2015. Eligible costs include risk management, expenses municipalities incur in order to change land-use planning policies to prohibit or reduce activities that pose a significant drinking water threat, community education and outreach, and other activities that align with the collection of data under the Clean Water Act.” (Source: Ministry of the Environment)
More information on Drinking Water Source Protection is available on the website:
www.waterprotection.ca.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Ellingwood, Project Manager, d.ellingwood@waterprotection.ca or 519-470-3000 x102
Karen Gillan, Communications Specialist, k.gillan@waterprotection.ca or 519-470-3000 x108