The Source Protection Process and the Terms of Reference

The initial phase of the source protection process involved establishing the source protection areas and source protection authorities.  Technical studies were also initiated.  In Niagara Peninsula, the Source Protection Authority and the Conservation Authority cover the same geographical area.  The source protection committee was formed in 2007 after the declaration of the Clean Water Act. 

The Niagara Peninsula Source Protection Committee (SPC) is a multi-stakeholder group made up of three municipal representatives, three members from the general public, and one member each from agriculture, industry, and business; plus a committee chair that is appointed by the province. 

The SPC is responsible for preparing a Terms of Reference, which includes the following:

• Mapping of the source protection area
• Listing of municipalities located in the source protection area
• Listing of drinking water systems that will undergo source protection planning (municipal residential systems are mandatory)
• Work Plan for the preparation of the Assessment Report identifying what work is assigned to municipalities and source protection authorities
• Work Plan for the preparation of the Source Protection Plan identifying what work is assigned to municipalities and source protection authorities

Developing the Terms of Reference

The development of the Terms of Reference (TOR) involved a significant public consultation process.  A draft TOR document was posted on the internet for public comments for a period of at least 35 days in the spring of 2008. Three public meetings were held to engage the public in the TOR development process and get public feedback on the draft document.  At the end of this public consultation period, all written comments were reviewed and considered by the SPC.   The Proposed Terms of Reference (Proposed TOR) was then prepared by revising the draft TOR document.  The Proposed TOR  then underwent a second public consultation period lasting 30 days.  The Proposed TOR was then submitted (along with a summary of comments that were received) to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) in October 2008.  After a minor amendment requested by the MOE, the Proposed TOR was approved by the province and was posted on the MOE’s EBR website on April 14, 2009.

The TOR (as approved by the MOE) is provided in the attachment below along with a Primer describing the process. 

Primer For Developing And Implementing A Plan
For Protecting Your Sources Of Drinking Water For the Niagara Watershed

Terms of Reference (approved by MOE in 2009)