Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program
Early Response

Grants for Landowners to Protect Municipal
Drinking Water Sources

In order to help landowners take action to protect municipal water supplies from contamination, the provincial government has created the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program.

 The current phase of the program – called “Early Response” - provides financial assistance to landowners who volunteer to undertake projects to address activities or circumstances that may pose significant drinking water threats to a municipal drinking water source.

Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible to receive funding under the Early Response Program, landowners must have activities on their property that may pose a significant threat to a municipal drinking water source. The easiest way to find out if you are eligible is to call local Conservation Authority staff (see contact information below).

What types of projects are eligible?

Examples of projects that are eligible for support in the Thames-Sydenham and Region include:

• On-site sewage system inspection and maintenance
• Design and installation of advanced on-site sewage systems
• Design and installation requirements for underground storage tanks, above ground storage tanks, and storage facilities
• Leak and spill prevention measures and equipment
• Contaminated site remediation, including excavation
• Identification, maintenance or decommissioning of unused and old wells within protected areas

What costs are eligible?

• Materials and supplies
• Contract labour (e.g. electric and plumbing connections)
• Professional fees/technical support and fees for related design, inspection and construction

Grant rate: up to 80% of eligible project costs

 Grant ceiling: varies from $1,500 to $100,000 depending on the project type

 Who do I contact for more information?

The program is being administered by the Upper Thames River and the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authorities. Contact your local Conservation Authority to learn more about grant rates and project eligibility.

• Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority - Jack Robertson, Water Management Supervisor, 519-354-7310 ext. 225, jack.robertson@ltvca.ca
• Upper Thames River Conservation Authority - Brad Glasman, Coordinator, Conservation Services, 519-451-2800 ext. 251, glasmanb@thamesriver.on.ca

• or Craig Merkley, Conservation Services Specialist, 519-451-2800 ext. 235, merkleyc@thamesriver.on.ca

Ask your Conservation Authority representative how these grants can be combined with grants from other local, provincial or federal programs, such as the Clean Water Program, to reduce the landowner’s costs.

 The Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program operates under the Clean Water Act (2006), which helps protect drinking water from source to tap with a multi-barrier approach that stops contaminants from entering sources of drinking water - lakes, rivers and aquifers.