Ontario Approves Sudbury and Four other Source Protection Plans

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Ontario approved the Sudbury Source Protection Plan (SSP) to strengthen local source-to-tap drinking water protection on September 30, 2014. The plan, developed by municipal and community partners on the Sudbury source protection committee, will take effect April 1, 2015.

Actions in the Sudbury plan include:

• establishing maintenance and inspection programs for septic systems in drinking water protection zones to meet building code requirements;
• creating risk-management plans for handling and storing pesticides, fertilizers, road salt, fuel and manure, as well as for existing waste sites;
• developing a storm water management strategy for Ramsey Lake and a water conservation action plan for the valley drinking water system; and
• producing and placing road signs to identify drinking water protection zones.

The Sudbury SSP is one of a flurry of plans approved within the last month. Other plans include:

• the Catfish Creek Source Protection Plan – approved September 30, 2014; effective Jan. 1, 2015.
• Details at: the Quinte Source Protection Plan – approved September 11, 2014, effective Jan.1, 2015.
• the Kettle Creek Source Protection Plan – approved September 11, 2014; effective Jan. 1, 2015.
• the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan – approved August 28, 2014; effective Jan.1, 2015.

Source Protection Plans (SPPs) are approved under the Clean Water Act, 2006. To date, eight SPPs have received provincial approval, with 11 others currently under consideration. The plans are designed to protect the water quality of lakes, rivers and
underground sources that supply municipal drinking water systems.

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