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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2015-09-09, Page 19Wednesday, September 9, 2015 • News Record 19 Conservation authorities create new website to protect water There are four types of areas in Ontario where municipal drinking water sources are considered most vulnerable to contam- ination. A new website focuses on protecting water in two of those areas. The Ausable Bayfield and Mait- land Valley conservation authorities have created a new micro website called keepingwaterclean.ca. This is one way staff members in the two watersheds are sharing simple ways to keep drinking water clean and safe in vulnerable aquifers and groundwater recharge areas. Locally -developed drink- ing water source protection plans took effect in April of 2015. Drinking water source protection staff and munici- pal risk management offi- cials have been focusing on the management of activities near municipal wellheads. There are three other types of areas, however, where people can make an extra difference in reducing risk to local drinking water sup- plies. Ontario's Clean Water Act, 2006 lists four types of areas where municipal groundwater or surface - water sources may be at most risk. The area of main focus in this region is munic- ipal wellhead protection areas. The other vulnerable areas are surface -water intake protection zone; highly vulnerable aquifers; and significant groundwater recharge areas. Some activities in well- head protection areas pose a significant threat to drinking water. In those cases, source protection plan policies may require action from a person engaged in a prescribed threat activity. The policies in wellhead protection areas reduce risk by using tools ranging from educa- tion and outreach, to risk management plans, to restricted land uses, to pro- hibition of some future activities. It's not the same in the other vulnerable areas, according to staff in the local source protection region. Education and vol- untary action are the only tools available for protect- ing drinking water in the other three area types. That's why the conservation authorities launched keep- ingwaterclean.ca in August. The new site focuses on highly vulnerable aquifers and significant groundwa- ter recharge areas. "We're pleased to see that people are already visiting this site," said Tim Cumming, communications specialist with Ausable Bayfield Con- servation. "We hope it offers some simple and practical ways to be part of the work taking place locally to keep our munici- pal drinking water safe and clean!' Here are some of the tips suggested on the new micro website: • Take used engine oil to recycling facilities. • If you have a septic sys- tem, have it inspected and pumped every three to five years. • If you can reduce quan- tities, or find alternatives to harmful chemicals, or ways to better store them, please do so. • Never dump products (like glues, fuel, paints and strippers, or other chemi- cals) on the ground or down a sink or down the toilet. If you don't want it in your drinking water, please don't dump it down a drain. • Dispose of hazardous waste properly at hazard- ous waste days, depots, or other approved sites. • If you apply pesticides, fertilizers or nutrients make sure you follow best practices. • Prevent spills and con- tain spills. Report spills if they happen to Ontario Spills Action Centre: 1-800-268-6060. • Protect and maintain your private well. Wells provide pathways for con- taminants to enter ground- water. If you have a well, be sure it is sealed properly. If you own a well not in use, have it properly decommis- sioned by a licensed well technician. • Ask your local conser- vation authority about stewardship guides and best practices for your home, cottage, farm, or business. Technical advice and grant programs maybe available to help. • Visit sourcewaterinfo. on.ca for fact sheets and information materials with more ideas. "We are very impressed with how people in our local communities are showing a commitment to keep local drinking water sources safe and clean," said Cumming. "There are actions we can all take locally to reduce risk and hopefully people will visit the website, consider the tips and hints, and put them into action!' There are 21 activities that may, in certain vulner- able areas and under cer- tain circumstances, pose a significant threat to munic- ipal drinking water sources. The source protection plans provide policies to reduce risk from these activities. Examples of activities include: storage of home heating oil or other fuel; septic systems and other sewage storage; storage and application of pesticide, fertilizer, and manure; and storage of hazardous and toxic chemicals including solvents and heavier -than - water dense non -aqueous phase liquids. For the com- plete list, visit ontario.ca. The keepingwaterclean. ca microsite has links to the region's official drinking water source protection website at sourcewaterinfo. on.ca. That website has maps of vulnerable areas as well as copies of the source protection plans, assess- ment reports, and explana- tory document. If you would like to find out if your home or work is located in a vulnerable area, visit sourcewaterinfo. on.ca. 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"We are very impressed with how people in our local communities are showing a commitment to keep local drinking water sources safe and clean," said Cumming. "There are actions we can all take locally to reduce risk and hopefully people will visit the website, consider the tips and hints, and put them into action!' There are 21 activities that may, in certain vulner- able areas and under cer- tain circumstances, pose a significant threat to munic- ipal drinking water sources. The source protection plans provide policies to reduce risk from these activities. Examples of activities include: storage of home heating oil or other fuel; septic systems and other sewage storage; storage and application of pesticide, fertilizer, and manure; and storage of hazardous and toxic chemicals including solvents and heavier -than - water dense non -aqueous phase liquids. For the com- plete list, visit ontario.ca. 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