Whitchurch-Stouffville
August 21, 2008 12:46 AM
Walkerton deaths, contamination in 2000 led to act, consultations
Alyshia Higgins
It’s time to step up and protect our liquid gold.
A water protection meeting is being held Sept. 11 at Latcham Hall in downtown Stouffville and you are encouraged to come out and voice your questions and concerns.
The meeting, being run by the CTC Source Protection Committee, is the first of three phases in the source protection plan every municipality in Ontario has to create.
CTC, one of 11 zones in the province, includes Credit Valley, Toronto and Region and Central Lake Ontario areas.
The plans are part of the Clean Water Act, enacted by the provincial government, which strives to protect water before it enters drinking systems.
The act was created following the 2000 Walkerton water contamination that left seven residents dead and more than 2,000 ill.
Susan Self, chairperson of the CTC Source Protection Committee, said the first meeting is about “building the roadmap” of protection for the town’s water in the future.
Once the committee receives public input, a report will be sent to the provincial government for approval.
The next phase will look at the scientific analysis of the ground water and surface water.
The last part will involve changing or enacting bylaws to protect drinking water sources.
“The whole point of this is we want to make sure the sources of drinking water are protected forever,” Ms Self said. “There will be lines on maps around wells for example, that will prohibit certain activities (around the source).”
The meeting runs from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be plenty of time for residents’ questions, following a formal presentation. Future meetings will be planned to obtain the public’s input as the process progresses, she added.
Go to
ctcswp.ca for more information.