In Waterloo Region, some of our drinking water comes from the Grand River but most comes from groundwater wells. Protecting our drinking water sources from contamination helps to ensure clean water for now and in the future. The Water Resources Protection Master Plan and Chapter 8 of the Regional Official Plan detail our approaches to keeping water clean, areas to protect, activities to manage and programs to deliver.
How you can help keep water clean | ||||||
At your urban home:
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Source Protection Plan and Clean Water Act | ||||||
The Source Protection Plan (SPP) protects municipal wells and surface water intakes from specific activities that may pose a threat to drinking water. The Ontario government passed the Clean Water Act in 2006 to protect drinking water. The Clean Water Act established a process for developing local, watershed-based Source Protection Plans. The Grand River Source Protection Plan includes the polices for the Region of Waterloo. Learn more about the Source Protection Plan and how it might affect you:
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Sewer Use By-law and industrial monitoring enforcement | ||||||
The Sewer Use By-law 1-90 regulates and controls discharge of water and wastewater into the sanitary and/or storm sewer distribution system in Waterloo Region. The bylaw protects the wastewater distribution system, the wastewater treatment plant operation and ultimately water quality of the Grand River. |
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Spills response | ||||||
Report a spill immediately if you witness a spill or suspect one has occurred or is about to occur. Quick actions can reduce clean-up time and protect the local environment. A spill is the release of a substance harmful to the environment - such as oil, fuel, chemicals or pesticides - into a sewer or the environment. The Region of Waterloo provides 24-hour emergency response to environmental spills. Responsibilities include:
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Drinking Water Protection Area road signs | ||||||
Waterloo Region relies on groundwater for drinking water. The Region of Waterloo manages over 120 supply wells throughout Waterloo Region that provide the groundwater we use every day for drinking, cooking, washing, and so much more. Each supply well is in a Wellhead Protection Area. The Wellhead Protection Area maps out the length of time and path groundwater takes to reach each supply well. You can find Drinking Water Protection Area signs on regional roads within Wellhead Protection Areas. The distance listed on each sign is the length of travel along the road before you reach the end of the Wellhead Protection Area zone. Drinking Water Protection Area road signs are reminders we all have a role to play protecting this important resource. For ideas on how you can help, read the I Am Groundwater blog post "9 actions you can take as a groundwater protector". |
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Brownfield sites | ||||||
The Potable Groundwater Criteria Use document outlines requirements of the developer for the clean up of groundwater on a brownfield site. Learn more about planning and development services and incentives for brownfield sites. |
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Other resources | ||||||
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