The Source Protection Process and the Assessment Report (AR)

The second phase of the source protection process involves the development of the Assessment Report (AR). The AR summarizes the technical studies that have been completed for the Niagara Peninsula Source Protection Area. The AR contains:

  • Delineation of Vulnerable Areas including municipal water treatment plant Intake Protection Zones (IPZs), Highly Vulnerable Aquifers (HVAs), and Significant Groundwater Recharge Areas (SGRAs);
  • Assessment of the types of activities that would be significant or moderate drinking water threats in these vulnerable areas, particularly with respect to municipal drinking water systems;
  • Identification of water quality issues associated with the raw (untreated) water supplied to the municipal water treatment plants, which could be addressed through source protection planning;
  • A water budget analysis and water quantity stress assessment for the whole source protection area; and
  • General background information that may be useful in developing the Source Protection Plan.

The AR provides the scientific information needed to develop the Source Protection Plan.

Click here to view the Proposed Assessment Report (AR)

Assessment Report Public Consultation Process

The development of the AR includes a significant consultation process to allow the public opportunity to provide comments on the AR. This consultation process is described below:

  • An initial 35-day public commenting period was held for the Draft version of the Proposed AR (from March 6 to April 12, 2010),
  • Three public meetings were held during the 35-day commenting period where source protection staff presented an overview of the Draft Proposed AR and the source protection program. The three public meetings were held:
    • March 29, 2010, evening at the Roselawn Centre, Port Colborne
    • March 30, 2010, afternoon at the 4 Points by Sheraton, Thorold
    • March 31, 2010, evening at the Casablanca Winery Inn, Grimsby
  • All written comments that were received during the 35-day period were reviewed, and based on these comments the report was revised to complete the final version of the Proposed AR.
  • The most important revisions are summarized below.
  • On June 4, 2010 the Proposed AR was posted on the internet.
  • A second public commenting period lasting 30 days was held from June 4 to July 5, 2010 for the Proposed AR.
  • The Proposed AR, along with comments received during the two commenting periods, was submitted in July 2010 to the Ontario Minister of the Environment for approval.

What Important Revisions were made in finalizing the Proposed Assessment Report (AR)?

A number of important revisions were made in finalizing the Proposed AR and these are high-lighted below:

  • Chapters 5-11: The Threats and Issues sections in Chapters 5-11 were rearranged and reworded to make them easier to understand.
  • Chapters 5-11: The Provincial Tables of Circumstances were incorporated into the AR in Appendix C. These tables make it easier to determine what activities are significant, moderate or low threats. The Tables of Drinking Water Threats (TDWT) have been removed from the AR appendices, since the Provincial Tables of Circumstances are now referenced instead.
  • Chapter 7: The Decew Main Intake IPZ-1 was extended to the south based on public comments that suggested the diversion ditch and berm around the lower and middle reservoirs may not hold back all surface water runoff during the spring season. A recount of the existing/enumerated threats has been completed.
  • Chapter 7: The length of the Decew Main Intake IPZ-1 was reduced to adhere to the Technical Rules (TR) which do not permit an IPZ-1 greater than 1 km radius. An IPZ-2 for the Decew Main Intake was created between the Main Intake IPZ-1 and Hwy 406 Intake IPZ-1. Vulnerability Scores for Main Intake IPZ-1 and IPZ-2 were recalculated, and a recount of the existing/enumerated threats has been completed.
  • Chapter 7: The province allowed a variation to the Technical Rules in order to compare sediment test results to soil criteria since it was deemed more appropriate criteria for human health considerations. As a result of the re-assessment, the significant threat condition posed by the Lake Gibson sediments has been revised in the AR and it is no longer a significant, moderate or low threat condition. Further explanation is provided in the Proposed AR.
  • Chapter 8: Port Colborne IPZ-2 delineation was reduced along Davis Street based on updated drainage information, and a recount of the existing/enumerated threats for Port Colborne IPZ-2 was completed.
  • Chapter 9: The Niagara Falls ‘natural flow’ scenario (when the OPG Canal is closed) was deleted from the Niagara Falls IPZ delineations. This change was made because Niagara Region intend to construct a temporary intake located on the Niagara River, in the event the OPG Canal is closed for maintenance. Vulnerability Scores and existing/enumerated threats for Niagara Falls IPZs have been re-assessed.
  • Chapter 12: A water quality write-up for the Great Lakes was added.

If you have any questions on the Proposed Assessment Report, please contact:

Niagara Peninsula Source Protection Authority
c/o Brian Wright, Coordinator, Source Protection
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority,
250 Thorold Road West, 3rd Floor,
Welland, ON L3C 3W2
Fax: 905-788-1121
Email: bwright@npca.ca

Click here to view the AR Notices advertized in local newspapers

Click here to download a Comment Form