Source Water Protection

What is Source Protection?

 

Credit Valley, Toronto and Region and Central Lake Ontario (CTC) Source Protection Plan (Plan) was created following the Walkerton incident of 2000, that contaminated the drinking water of the community’s municipal well. The Plan is mandated under the Clean Water Act, 2006 and municipalities are mandated to implement the Plan.

The Plan establishes how water quality and quantity for municipal water supplies will be protected and came into effect on December 31, 2015 and applied immediately to all threat activities. Since 2015, the City of Vaughan (City) has implemented the Plan. In May 23, 2018, (Report No. 18) staff took a report to Council endorsing the further implementation of the Plan.

 

How is the City implementing Source Protection?

 

The City contains four Vulnerable Areas, as follows:

 

The City is required to screen all development applications including:

 

  • Official Plan Amendments (advisory)
  • Zoning By-Law Amendments (advisory)
  • Plans of Subdivision
  • Site Plan Application
  • Building Permits

 

How to screen your property for source protection threats?

 

Use the York Region Source Water Protection Maps

 

Lands within Recharge Management Areas require a Water Balance Assessment

 

On behalf of the City, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) Water Resources group reviews the Water Balance Assessment for technical requirements. Refer to these guidance docuemnts for more information:

 

TRCA Recharge Management Area - WHPA-Q Guidance Document 2019.

York Region Recharge Management Area - WHPA-Q FAQs

 

For information on technical requirements, please contact Don Ford, Senior Manager, Hydrogeology Engineering Services at TRCA - 416.661.6600 ext. 5369 or don.ford@trca.ca

 

Next Steps
As part of the Official Plan Review, the City will be updating Chapter 3 of the City of Vaughan Official Plan 2010, to conform to Regional Official Plan.

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