A major initiative to protect the drinking water in an area covering Perth, Huron and northern Middlesex Counties has been approved by the province.
The plans, which were developed by local municipal and community partners on the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley source protection committee, will take effect April 1.
Source protection plans are designed to protect the water quality of the lakes, rivers and sources of underground water that supply municipal drinking water systems.
There are an estimated 100,000 people living in the combined area, which includes Grand Bend, Bayfield, Goderich, Clinton, Exeter, Wingham, and Listowel.
Of the 29 municipal residential drinking water systems, 27 draw water from a groundwater source, such as an aquifer, while the remaining two draw water from Lake Huron.
Actions set out in the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley plans include:
Providing information to residents on best practices for maintaining septic systems, handling and storage of fuel, applying manure and other fertilizers.
Creating risk-management plans for handling and storing pesticides, fertilizers, fuel and manure, and for locating livestock grazing areas.
Updating emergency response plans to protect sources of drinking water in protection zones along highways, shipping lanes and railways.
Producing and placing road signs to identify drinking water protection zones.
