Ontario invests more money for safe drinking water

The McGuinty government announced today that they are providing further funding to help communities move ahead with their 'Source Protection Plans'.

Full details contained in the news release below.

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The McGuinty government is providing $35 million to conservation authorities and municipalities for work to protect local drinking water sources, including $203,800 to the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority, Nipissing MPP Monique Smith announced today. This funding is helping communities to do the ground work needed to support the development of the source protection plans required by the new Clean Water Act.

“The work that is being done right now is vital to making sure Ontarians continue to have clean, safe drinking water” said Smith. “I’m proud to be part of government that is committed to investing in the safety of our water and the protection of our environment.”

Local funding details are as follows:

Study/Coordinator:

North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority

Partners:

Municipality of Callander
$44,100
Town of Mattawa
$34,800
City of North Bay
$37,300
Township of Powassan
$34,800
Village of South River
$52,800

Total
$203,800

*Amounts indicated reflect preliminary partner grants. Final amounts may differ as agreements are finalized.

The Clean Water Act received Royal Assent on October 19, 2006. It ensures that communities are able to protect their municipal drinking water supplies through developing collaborative, locally driven, science-based source protection plans.

“Every one of us in this province has a fundamental right to safe, clean drinking water,” said Environment Minister Laurel Broten. “This groundbreaking legislation with its emphasis on prevention is a key part of our plan to protect drinking water from source to tap.”

This funding is just one of the ways the McGuinty government is helping Ontario communities protect their drinking water. Other examples include:

Creating an advisory panel to develop a stewardship program to support source water protection in rural Ontario.

Making an initial $7 million available in 2007/08 to help farmers and small rural businesses take early action to protect drinking water.

Hiring 33 new full-time water inspectors, investigators and compliance staff.

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