ERCA Encouraged by Government's Support for Source Water Protection

The introduction of the Clean Water Act is an important step toward ensuring safe drinking water for all Ontarians. Conservation Ontario and the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) are encouraged by the government's support of source water protection planning.

"We are pleased that the government has maintained its commitment to introduce legislation this session," said Tom Wilson, ERCA Chair. "Water is critical to all aspects of our lives. Significant attention and resources are essential to guarantee enough clean water for Ontarians now and in the future. We have an obligation to care for what we have."

Conservation Authorities are this province's leading watershed managers. Source Protection legislation will provide an important framework on how best to protect sources of drinking water such as rivers, lakes, streams and groundwater.

Since the tragedy at Walkerton in May 2000, Conservation Ontario and its member Authorities have worked with the province, municipalities and other stakeholders to provide expertise in developing the best approach to source water protection.

ERCA, like all Conservation Authorities, has a strong track record of success in delivering a variety of watershed management programs to improve water quality, reduce flood and erosion damages, protect natural areas and biodiversity, and provide environmental education to watershed residents. Because they are structured on a watershed basis, Conservation Authorities are able to co-ordinate and streamline local delivery of water management and source protection activities.

"Over the past year, ERCA has been collecting the technical data that will be crucial to the preparation of Source Water Protection Plan," Wilson went on to say. "We look forward to working with our municipal partners and a broad range of stakeholders to develop plans to ensure that our drinking water is protected at its source for generations to come."