Review of Hanover’s drinking water source protection

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The drinking water source protection plan is currently reviewing a number of Hanover’s main municipal water sources, including the Intake Protection Zones for Ruhl Lake, which provides 50 per cent of Hanover’s water.

This investigation will ultimately determine whether the 120 metre setback needs to be adjusted, and will look into the effectiveness of protection zones, as well as relevant agricultural policies. The program also prohibits applications of agricultural source material within 100 metres of Hanover wells.

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The drinking water source protection program, which has been in effect since July 2016, is also considering a number of policy amendments, including changes to salt application, reviewing monitoring policies with municipalities and allowing risk management officials discretion when screening areas.

Sources protected under the program include Grey Sauble, Saugeen and Northern Bruce Peninsula, which covers 22 municipalities and approximately 8,400 square kilometres. The region contains 38 municipal residential drinking water systems, 29 of which are groundwater, eight are surface water and one is a combination of the two.

“The Clean Water Act came into effect back in 2006, and we’ve come a long way from the Walkerton inquiry and the recommendations to implement a Clean Water Act,” said Carl Seider, the project manager for the drinking water protection program, who presented this update at the Hanover council meeting on Sept. 16.

Seider also acts as a risk management official for the program.

“The work of the protection committee over the years led to a very dependable source protection plan to protect the municipal drinking water sources across the province and specifically in this region,” he said.

However, Seider said the implementation of the plan falls on the municipalities involved, many of which have delegated officials that engage with landowners to ensure they are following the required practises, and keeping records.

He also emphasized the need for support from the communities, as well as local councils to spread awareness about this program.

Municipalities, specifically Hanover and Brockton, are accountable for implementing risk management plans, have ongoing screenings of planning applications, complete threat certifications for properties, among other things.

Grey Sauble Conservation is under contract with 13 municipalities, which are also responsible for ensuring this source protection plan is put into effect.