Source Water Protection

Risk Management Plans (RMPs) are best-practice management tools to help residents and businesses protect drinking water sources. Through a preventative focus, Risk Management Plans are specific to the type of property and its activities that may pose a risk to drinking water. These plans are negotiated between the person engaged in the activity and Halton Region’s Risk Management Official. RMPs are legally-binding under the Clean Water Act, 2006.

Risk Management Plans are required when site-specific activities may impact the quality and/or quantity of drinking water in vulnerable areas.

These may be existing activities or future activities proposed through building and planning applications. In both cases, municipal staff will contact persons and organizations involved in existing and/or future threat activities in order to:

1. Determine if a Risk Management Plan is required.
2. Answer any questions related to the Clean Water Act, 2006, Source Water Protection or Risk Management Plans.
3. Provide helpful resources outlining the process and timelines for establishing Risk Management Plans.

The process for developing a Risk Management Plan (RMP) is as follows:

1. Halton Region contacts resident/business to initiate consultation regarding the development of a Risk Management Plan.
2. Halton Region provides resources and technical support to the resident/business to prepare the Risk Management Plan.
3. Halton Region works with the resident/business to prepare the Risk Management Plan.
4. Halton Region reviews the Risk Management Plan. If edits or additional details are required, Halton Region will notify the resident/business. If the Risk Management Plan is adequate, Halton Region will approve and finalize it.

To assist this process, Halton Region has created the Risk Management Plan Guidance document to help residents and business owners understand the information that is required to prepare and submit a Risk Management Plan.

Call 311 to request a copy of the Risk Management Plan Guidance document.

Source water protection and planning/building applications

Planning/ building applications on properties located within vulnerable areas may be subject to Source Protection Plan policies if they propose activities identified as significant drinking water threats that may potentially contaminate or overuse municipal drinking water sources such as:

• Applying, handling and storing road salt and snow storage.
• Handling and storing fuels, solvents, hazardous waste and other related chemicals.
• Activities that reduce return of water into the ground.
• Applying, handling, and storing pesticides, fertilizers, agricultural and non-agricultural materials. 
• Activities that take water without returning it to the same water source.
• Installing or modifying septic and other sewage systems.
• Use of land for livestock yards and/or pasturing.

Is my property in a vulnerable area?

Applicants can contact their local municipal Planning and Building Departments or Halton Region’s Source Protection Office to obtain this information prior to submitting an application. To find out if your property falls within a vulnerable area, such as a wellhead protection area or surface water treatment plant intake zone, call 311.

How is my application reviewed?

Municipalities have developed tools to determine whether your application may be subject to Source Protection Plan policies, such as the Source Protection Checklist (available at local municipal building/ planning service desks). If the subject property is located in a vulnerable area, applicants will be requested to complete and submit this single page checklist along with other supporting documentation (drawings, details, etc.).

Staff will review the submission and communicate any Source Water Protection requirements to the applicant. In some cases, additional information regarding the proposed activity may be requested to complete the review process.

What do I need to do to comply with Source Water Protection?

Some activities will be managed through traditional methods such as Environmental Compliance Approvals, Permits-To-TakeWater, Nutrient Management Plans, and Nutrient Management Strategies. However, depending on the level of risk associated with the proposed activities, some may be prohibited as proposed or require other supporting documents such as:

• Risk Management Plans (see Risk Management Plan fact sheet)
• Site-Specific Salt Management Plans
• Water Balance Assessments
• Hydrogeological Assessments

Where proposed activities are prohibited or regulated through Source Water Protection, municipal staff will provide applicants with detailed feedback regarding what is required.

Source water protection and salt and snow management

Salt and snow plowing helps keep our roads, parking lots, walkways, and driveways safe, but may also potentially impact the quality of our groundwater and surface water sources. Runoff from rain and melt water that comes into contact with salt and plowed snow may contain chemicals that can drain into drinking water sources. As a result, these activities are regulated through the implementation of Source Protection Plans under the province’s Clean Water Act, 2006 in order to further protect sources of drinking water from potential contamination.

Managing risk on your property

Hiring winter maintenance contractors who use best management practices for snow and ice control to maintain safe conditions can reduce the potential impacts of road salt on drinking water sources and the environment. Winter maintenance contractors can become certified through programs such as “Smart About Salt” (smartaboutsalt.com), which provides training to optimize winter salting and snow plowing practices while protecting drinking water sources and maintaining safe conditions.

Potential causes of contamination

• Salt dissolves into rainwater and melt water, which runs-off into nearby ditches, streams, or catchbasins.
• Runoff from improperly sealed exterior salt storage containers can wash into the environment.
• Melt water from plowed snow piles may contain salt or other chemicals.

Tips to protect our water

• Shovel or plow your snow instead of applying road salt.
• Avoid storing snow in areas where melt-water drains across paved surfaces towards catchbasins or ditches.
• Move drainage discharges from downspouts away from walkways or driveways.
• Consider using alternative de-icer materials that contain less sodium and chloride.
• Apply abrasives such as sand during colder temperatures to improve traction.
• If you hire a contractor for winter maintenance, ensure they are Smart About Salt certified.

Source water protection and household chemicals

Household chemicals can pose a risk to drinking water sources if they are not properly stored, used, and disposed. A minor spill or leak of hazardous chemicals can contaminate large volumes of groundwater and surface water. As a result, these activities are regulated through the implementation of Source Protection Plans under the province’s Clean Water Act, 2006 in order to further protect sources of drinking water from potential contamination.

Managing risk on your property

Residents should be familiar with the types of chemical products stored at their home and the associated risks to their health and the environment. For commercial products, refer to manufacturer’s labels for responsible use and handling instructions. Store chemicals in secure, dry areas and regularly inspect containers and storage areas for signs of leaks or spills.

Types of hazardous chemicals

• Organic Solvents – typically found in paints, adhesives, degreasers, and cleaning products (used to dissolve substances such as oils, paint thinners, and glue solvents).
• Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs) – typically found in paint removers, degreasers, and cleaning products.
• Fuels – diesel, gasoline, home heating fuel, and lubricating oils.
• Hazardous wastes containing the substances listed above.

How source water protection applies

In protecting drinking water sources, the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals and waste near municipal groundwater well systems, municipal surface water treatment plants or in other vulnerable areas requires special attention.

Source Protection Plan policies manage these activities within these vulnerable areas in several ways:

1. Activity Prohibition – The handling and storage of some hazardous chemicals and waste may be prohibited in close proximity to municipal wells.
2. Risk Management Plans – A risk management plan is a legally-binding negotiated agreement between Halton Region’s Risk Management Official and the person (landowner/tenant/contractor) engaged in the activity. It is based on best practices to manage the risks associated with the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals and waste.

Note: The handling and storage of hazardous chemicals and fuels within these vulnerable areas are not automatically subject to Source Protection Plans.

Tips to protect our water

Household Hazardous Chemicals

• Consider purchasing eco-friendly alternatives to hazardous chemicals.
• Purchase only the amount of chemicals you need, and try to use up the entire container to avoid generating unnecessary waste.
• Avoid transferring chemicals from one container to another container.
• Dispose of fuels, chemicals, or other hazardous wastes at the Halton Region Waste Management Site free of charge (visit www.halton.ca for a list of accepted waste types).
• Never pour chemicals or hazardous waste down the drain or into storm sewers

Home Heating Fuels and Other Storage Tanks

• Check your storage tanks regularly for signs of corrosion, staining under the tank, and strong smells of fuel or other chemicals.

What should I do in the event of a spill or leak?

• Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions
• If it can be done safely, contain the spill using materials such as buckets, rags, kitty litter, etc.
• Call 1-800-268-6060 to reach MOECC Spills Action Centre
• Call 311 to reach Halton Region’s Spill Response Team

Source water protection and agriculture

Ontario farmers have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to agricultural best management practices, such as nutrient management planning, livestock fencing, stream buffer strips and spills management, that minimize potential contamination impacts of farming activities on drinking water sources. Additionally, many farmers are familiar with the Environmental Farm Plan Program process which helps support the protection of drinking water at its source.

Managing risk on your farm

Agricultural operations can have an impact on both groundwater and surface water sources. Certain activities on land, such as those using fertilizers, pesticides, fuels, manure and other nutrients which can be washed into surface waterbodies or leach into groundwater, can potentially impact our drinking water sources. As a result, these activities are regulated through the implementation of Source Protection Plans under the province’s Clean Water Act, 2006 in order to further protect sources of drinking water from potential contamination or overuse.

Potential causes of contamination

• Runoff or leaching from improper application or storage of manure
• Runoff or leaching from improper use of pesticides or fertilizers
• Runoff from livestock grazing or confinement

How source water protection applies

In protecting drinking water sources, farms near municipal groundwater well systems, municipal surface water treatment plants or in other vulnerable areas need special attention.

Source Protection Plan policies manage agricultural activities within these vulnerable areas in three ways:

1. Nutrient Management Strategies/Plans
   You may need to review and update your current approvals, such as a Nutrient Management Plan or Strategy, under the Nutrient Management Act.
2. Activity prohibition
   Source Protection Plans align closely with the Nutrient Management Act, in prohibiting certain agricultural activities close to municipal wells, such as the application of manure, fertilizers, pesticides and other nutrients, as well as the storage of fuels and chemicals.
3. Risk management plans
   A risk management plan is a legally-binding negotiated agreement between Halton Region’s Risk Management Official and the person (landowner/tenant/farmer) engaged in the activity. It is based on the principles of the Nutrient Management Act and includes best management practices to manage the risks associated with certain farming activities.

Note: Certain farming activities that occur within these vulnerable areas are not automatically subject to Source Protection Plans.

Tips to protect our water

• Plant vegetation along watercourses to prevent erosion and runoff
• Conduct regular soil testing to determine nutrient requirements
• Maintain setbacks from watercourses when applying nutrients or pesticides
• Maintain private water well(s) and decommission unused wells.
• Dispose household hazardous waste through Halton’s Household Hazardous Waste Program.

What should I do in the event of a spill or leak?

• Contain the spill using materials such as buckets, rags, kitty litter, etc.
• Call 1-800-268-6060 to reach MOECC Spills Action Centre
• Call 311 to reach Halton Region’s Spill Response Team

Source water protection and industrial/commercial chemicals

Industrial and commercial businesses use hazardous chemicals every day for a variety of purposes. These chemicals can pose a risk to drinking water sources if they are not properly stored, used, and disposed. A minor spill or leak of hazardous chemicals can contaminate large volumes of groundwater and surface water.

As a result, these activities are regulated through the implementation of Source Protection Plans under the province’s Clean Water Act, 2006 in order to further protect sources of drinking water from potential contamination.

Managing risk on your property

Businesses are encouraged to use environmental best management practices (BMPs) related to hazardous chemical handling and storage. Examples of BMPs include: training staff to use chemicals responsibly, storing chemicals in approved containers with secondary containment, regularly inspecting containers and storage areas, developing and updating emergency spill response plans, and protecting containers from collisions or other impacts.

Types of hazardous chemicals

• Organic Solvents – typically found in paints, adhesives, degreasers, and cleaning products (used to dissolve substances such as oils, paint thinners, and glue solvents).
• Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs) – typically found in paint removers, degreasers, and cleaning products.
• Fuels – diesel, gasoline, home heating fuel, and lubricating oils.
• Hazardous wastes containing the substances listed above.

How source water protection applies

In protecting drinking water sources, the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals and waste near municipal groundwater well systems, municipal surface water treatment plants or in other vulnerable areas requires special attention.

Source Protection Plan policies manage these activities within these vulnerable areas in several ways:

1. Prescribed Instrument – A prescribed instrument is a legal document that sets out site-specific terms and conditions related to the storage and use of hazardous chemicals and waste. Prescribed instruments are typically approved and issued by regulatory agencies, and include conditions to reduce or control environmental risks.
2. Activity Prohibition – The handling and storage of some hazardous chemicals and waste may be prohibited in close proximity to municipal wells.
3. Risk Management Plans – A risk management plan is a legally-binding negotiated agreement between Halton Region’s Risk Management Official and the person (landowner/tenant/contractor) engaged in the activity. It is based on best practices to manage the risks associated with the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals and waste.

Note: The handling and storage of hazardous chemicals and fuels within these vulnerable areas are not automatically subject to Source Protection Plans.

Tips to protect our water

• Develop and update emergency spill response plans.
• Train and certify staff handling hazardous chemicals.
• Perform regular inspections of containers, tanks, and piping for signs of damage and wear (e.g. cracks, dents, rust, staining).
• Maintain good housekeeping, keeping chemical storage and transfer areas clear of obstacles and debris.
• Use secondary containment in chemical storage areas, and always locate tanks and containers on impervious surfaces away from floor drains and catch basins.
• Use certified contractors to transport and dispose-of hazardous waste, and keep detailed shipment and disposal records.
• Consider phasing-out or replacing hazardous chemicals with eco-friendly alternatives.

What should I do in the event of a spill or leak?

• Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions
• If it can be done safely, contain the spill using materials such as buckets, rags, kitty litter, etc.
• Call 1-800-268-6060 to reach MOECC Spills Action Centre
• Call 311 to reach Halton Region’s Spill Response Team