Displaying items by tag: source protection

MISSISSIPPI AND RIDEAU WATERSHEDS, May 2, 2022 — On April 20, 2022 the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) approved an amendment to the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan and the Rideau Valley Assessment Report. The approved amendment took effect on April 28, 2022. 

This amendment reflects a new well to an existing municipal well system in the community of Kemptville which is owned and operated by the Municipality of North Grenville. The Kemptville well system serves approximately 5,000 people residing in the community. 

The well system affects two existing Wellhead Protection Areas in the Source Protection Plan and Assessment Report, the Merrickville Wellhead Protection Area in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and the existing Kemptville Wellhead Protection Area. An amendment to the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan (including the Rideau Valley Assessment Report) is necessary to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act. 

“These amendments ensure municipal drinking water systems continue to be protected through the drinking water source protection program,” said Laura Cummings, Project Manager for the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region. 

Drinking water sources in the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region include groundwater, drawn from aquifers underground, and water drawn from rivers. The Source Protection Plan sets out policies that use a variety of tools to protect municipal drinking water sources from contamination. These tools include education, risk management planning, prohibition and land use planning. Policies in the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan first came into effect on January 1, 2015. Visit the Region’s local website at https://www.mrsourcewater.ca to find out more.

The Notice of Approval of the amended Assessment Report and Source Protection Plan for the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region is also posted on Ontario’s Environmental Registry at https://ero.ontario.ca/. 

If you have questions about the approved changes, please contact Laura Cummings at 613-692-3571 ext. 1148 or . 

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Mississippi Valley and Rideau Valley Source Protection Authorities
Laura Cummings
3889 Rideau Valley Drive, PO Box 599
Manotick ON  K4M 1A5
613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1148

MISSISSIPPI AND RIDEAU WATERSHEDS, September 22, 2022 — The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is seeking a dedicated new Chairperson to lead the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Committee.

Under the Clean Water Act of 2006, 19 local watershed-based source protection committees have been established across the province. These committees include representatives from local watershed stakeholders such as municipalities, agricultural groups, landowners, industry, environmental organizations and the public at large. As outlined in the legislation, the Minister is responsible for appointing a Chair to each of these committees.

Each committee, under the leadership and guidance of their Chair, is responsible for upholding and implementing the source protection plans that have been developed to protect municipal drinking water systems across Ontario, as well as their terms of reference and assessment reports. Chairs play an important role in guiding their committees in reporting on implementation of these plans and ensuring they remain relevant through future updates.

“If you have leadership experience and an interest in protecting drinking water sources, we encourage you to apply,” said Marika Livingston, Mississippi-Rideau Source Water Protection Project Manager. “We are proud of the work that has been done to ensure our region has a strong safety net to protect our drinking water, but there is more work to be done. We need a leader willing to guide and support our committee as we work though some major program updates and changes.” 

Among other qualifications, the Chair position requires a multi-year commitment, an ability to understand scientific and technical reports and attendance at the several Source Protection Committee meetings held each year. Applicants must also live or work in the Mississippi or Rideau watersheds.

Further details regarding this part-time position, including descriptions of roles and responsibilities and an application form, are available online at https://www.pas.gov.on.ca/Home/Advertisement/750.  A small per diem as well as expenses (mileage and meals) will be paid while working on Source Protection business. 

Applications will be accepted until October 3, 2022. 

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Mississippi Valley and Rideau Valley Source Protection Authorities
Marika Livingston, Project Manager
3889 Rideau Valley Drive, PO Box 599
Manotick ON  K4M 1A5
613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1148

EASTERN ONTARIO, Oct. 17, 2022 – The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region (MRSPR) has released an interactive StoryMap exploring threats to our region’s highly vulnerable aquifers – and what we can do about them. 

Readers of all backgrounds and interest levels can use the new StoryMap to explore risks to groundwater through its digital maps, charts and photos.
 
“Whether you’re interested in the geology behind our groundwater system, the impacts of contamination on your family or what you can do about it, our new StoryMap offers a choose-your-own-adventure to explore a huge range of information,” said Rideau Valley Conservation Authority groundwater scientist Claire Milloy, who wrote and designed the digital product on behalf of the MRSPR. 

About 90% of drinking water aquifers across the Mississippi and Rideau watersheds are considered highly vulnerable to contamination. These aquifers have very little protection from surface soils, which are necessary to filter chemicals, nutrients and other pollutants out of surface runoff as it trickles down from above. 

Cracks in the exposed bedrock can allow contaminants from industrial, agricultural and residential activities to easily enter the groundwater below - and they're sometimes impossible to clean up.  

The StoryMap and its accompanying resources were developed in accordance with an MRSPR policy encouraging groundwater threat awareness.  
  
The education package also includes a series of “action sheets” highlighting best practices for homes and businesses, a three-part animated video series developed by the Spring Ridge Training Institute, and an extensive scientific bibliography intended for scientists, researchers, planners and engineers. 
 
“We sincerely hope these resources will help shed some much-needed light on the risks facing our local groundwater supplies,” said Milloy, P. Geo. “It only takes a few minutes to contaminate an aquifer, but it can take hundreds of years to undo the damage – if it can be undone at all.” 
 
The 8,500 km2 MRSPR is one of 19 in Ontario created under the Clean Water Act of 2006, which now operate through local conservation authorities. The MRSPR encompasses the watersheds of the Mississippi and Rideau rivers, and is jointly administered by the Rideau Valley and Mississippi Valley conservation authorities as well as a multi-stakeholder Source Protection Committee.  
 
To learn more about highly vulnerable aquifers visit www.mrsourcewater.ca. 
 

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MISSISSIPPI AND RIDEAU WATERSHEDS, March 28, 2023 — Do you care about the health of your drinking water? The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region (MRSPR) is seeking a Source Protection Committee member who is interested in protecting municipal drinking water sources in the Mississippi and Rideau Valley watersheds.

The Source Protection Committee oversees the implementation of science-based source protection plans to protect municipal water sources in the Mississippi Valley and Rideau Valley watersheds. It meet several times a year in various locations across the region.  

The committee is looking for one public sector representative to liaise on behalf any of the following seats: environmental, non-governmental organizations, First Nations or general interest. 

“If you have experience and knowledge in this sector and have an interest in protecting drinking water sources, we hope you will apply,” said Marika Livingston, Mississippi-Rideau Source Water Protection Project Manager. “Among other qualifications, these positions require a multi-year commitment, an ability to understand scientific and technical reports and attendance at the two or more Source Protection Committee meetings held each year. Applicants must also live or work in the Mississippi or Rideau watersheds.”

The MRSPR Committee was established in 2007 as a result of the Province’s Clean Water Act. The committee guides local efforts to protect drinking water at the source and is made up of one-third municipal, one-third economic and one-third public sector representatives. The composition ensures that a variety of local interests are represented at the decision-making table as the committee works to oversee the implementation of science-based source protection plans. 

Future work of the Committee includes the review of new scientific and technical information to ensure that the Source Protection Plan and its supporting reports remain current and relevant.

Further details regarding these part-time positions including descriptions of roles and responsibilities and an application form are available online at https://www.mrsourcewater.ca/en/apply. A small per diem as well as mileage will be paid while working on Source Protection business. 

Applications will be accepted until April 28, 2023. 

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Mississippi Valley and Rideau Valley Source Protection Authorities
Marika Livingston, Project Manager
3889 Rideau Valley Drive, PO Box 599
Manotick ON  K4M 1A5
613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1148