Drinking Water Source Protection at Risk

The Ministry of the Environment, Climate Change and Parks has proposed a series of “dramatic changes” to Ontario’s permit-by-rule framework, according to the Canadian Environmental Law Association, which would threaten drinking water sources across the province.

The MECP seeks to expand the permit-by-rule system to hazardous materials transportation and to wastewater and stormwater management systems and other activities.

In 2018, Bill 68, the Open for Business Act, legislated that “less complex activities” that “pose low risk to the environment” should not be required to go through a review and approval process, but could instead merely self-register on the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR).

Councillor Janice Maynard. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

Quinte Conservation says the expansion of self-reported activity poses real risks to drinking water.

In a deputation last week, Amy Dickens, QC’s Sourcewater Protection Coordinator, noted “the proposed amendments would expand the permit-by-rule regime to include activities considered drinking water threats.”

“The proposals would extend self-reporting to the transportation of hazardous materials, including asbestos, liquid industrial waste and PCB hazardous waste,” she said. “It would also extend to private stormwater management facilities and water takings for construction sites and dewater activities around foundation drains. These may not sound like a source water concerns, but foundation drains can act as a pathway for contaminants to water sources.”

There are also serious concerns around dewatering activities for construction sites and around contaminated or “condition” sites.

“If dewatering happened around contaminated sites without proper ministry review, contamination could spread throughout our communities,” said Ms. Dickens.

“If the proposals are approved, the Ministry will no longer review these kinds of applications. All have potential to cause human health impacts around sourcewater.”

A resolution tabled by Councillor Janice Maynard was approved by all but one councillor, David Harrison. It supports letters from other major environmental and regulatory agencies, including the Canadian Environmental Law Association and Quinte Conservation, demanding a withdrawal of the proposals.

The resolution will be sent to the Ontario Government, all municipal governments, and copied to Todd Smith, MPP.

Waterworks Loan Approved

A loan application to Infrastructure Ontario for $23.4 million to finance water and wastewater infrastructure was approved. The borrowing of funds to finance the capital projects in question was approved by Council in its 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 budgets.

The projects include the Wellington Water Distribution Upgrades ($10.2 million); the Millennium Trail watermain extension ($5.1 million) and wastewater collection upgrades in Picton, including the reconstruction of Picton Main Street ($8.1 million). Nothing has yet been borrowed to finance these projects. Upon completion, the loan will be converted to a debenture, a long-term borrowing cost.

Once debentured, the loan is converted to a 30-year term to match payments with the life of the infrastructure constructed.