Essex Region Source Protection Committee Hosts Open Houses

The Essex Region Source Protection Committee (SPC) will host seven open houses in the coming weeks to promote the value of protecting drinking water at its source. Open houses are scheduled near the drinking water intake in each community.

These open houses are interactive, and intended to promote how living or owning land near a municipal drinking water source means that landowners can play an important role in its protection by simply being aware of how they can keep this vital supply of water safe. Attendees can learn how land uses can affect the source of our drinking water, speak with experts on surface water quality, the Clean Water Act, and household water conservation, and learn about a new grant program that may be able to assist them in undertaking projects on their property to further protect the source of their drinking water.

"As we move forward in creating the Source Protection Plan for our region, it will be important to have the input of our community," explained Tom Fuerth, SPC Chair. "These open houses will help provide information to landowners who live near these municipal drinking water intakes, and will also give us the opportunity to receive some early feedback on their thoughts and priorities."

All open houses will take place from 3pm - 8pm. The dates and locations are as follows:

Date: Thursday, February 21
Drinking Water System: Stoney Point
Location: Rochester Golf Club
Address: 981 - 991 County Rd. 2, Belle River

Date: Tuesday, February 26
Drinking Water System: Amherstburg
Location: Verdi Club
Address: 689 Texas Road, Amherstburg

Date: Wednesday, February 27
Drinking Water System: Belle River
Location: Knights of Columbus
Address: 1303 County Rd. 22, Belle River

Date: Thursday, February 28
Drinking Water System: Windsor
Location: Riverside Arena
Address: 6755 Wyandotte St. E., Windsor

Date: Tuesday, March 4
Drinking Water System: Union Water System
Location: The United Church of Ruthven
Address: 1907 Queen Boulevard, Ruthven

Date: Thursday, March 6
Drinking Water System: Wheatley
Location: Royal Canadian Legion
Address: 7 Erie St North, Wheatley

The open house in Wheatley is being jointly hosted with the Thames-Sydenham Source Protection Region, and the Lower Thames, Upper Thames, and St. Clair Region Conservation Authorities.

For more information about the open houses, check out the Essex Region Source Protection website at www.essexregionsourcewater.org.