Source Water Protection

Background

In 2000, contaminated drinking water caused illness in over 2,300 people and killed 7 others in Walkerton, Ontario.  The subsequent inquiry into the tragedy resulted in 121 recommendations to protect our ground and surface water sources.  Ontario's Clean Water Act was passed in 2006 to protect existing and future sources of drinking water from potential contamination and depletion.

In Niagara, the Niagara Peninsula Source Water Protection Plan was created under the Clean Water Act to assess threats to our drinking water and how we can address those threats.  Implementation of the Source Water Protection Plan is a shared responsibility between the Province, the Niagara Source Protection Advisory Committee, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, the Niagara Region and Local Municipalities.

For more information about the Source Protection Plan and to see a copy of the Plan you can visit: http://www.sourceprotection-niagara.ca/documents/source-protection-plan. 

The Source Protection Plan identified an Intake Protection Zone (IPZ) for each municipality.  In Niagara Falls, the source of our drinking water is located in the area of the Welland River at the Niagara River in the Village of Chippawa.

Within the City's Intake Protection Zone (IPZ-1) significant long term threats have been identified as new industrial or commercial uses requiring storm water management; sewage treatment plants, and agricultural runoff.  The City's Planning documents are being amended to prohibit these potential threats to our drinking water within this intake area.

If your property is located within the City's IPZ-1 and are considering a planning application or building permit please contact the Planning Department to discuss how source water protection affects you.

Project Update

The City has approved an amendment to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law 79-200 to implement source protection.

Official Plan Amendment No. 124

Zoning By-law 2017-65