Water is critical to all aspects of our lives and it is important that we ensure there is a safe and reliable source of water for all our uses – now and in the future.
In the Thames-Sydenham and Region, our Municipal drinking water comes from the great lakes (Lake Huron and Lake Erie), the connecting channels (St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair) or underground sources (aquifers) drawn from wells and wellfields located across the region. All of these sources of water are linked in a watershed through the water cycle. Drinking water sources can be easily contaminated. Long-term problems can develop that are costly or even impossible to correct.
Through the Clean Water Act, a local committee has been established to guide the process to develop a Source Protection Plan to protect municipal sources of drinking water. The Source Protection Plan will determine areas that are vulnerable, identify potential threats and develop plans to deal with the threats to our drinking water sources.
In this area, the Upper Thames River, Lower Thames Valley and St. Clair Region Conservation Authorities have partnered together to work with the Source Protection Committee to coordinate the development of Source Protection Plans for our watersheds. We are committed to work with our municipalities, other stakeholders and the public to develop Source Protection Plans that serve to protect our drinking water while taking into account the other needs of our communities.
These signs are appearing across Ontario to raise awareness about the vulnerability of our municipal drinking water sources. Governments at the local and provincial level are placing signs along roadways where a pollution spill could have a negative impact on our drinking water sources.
The road signs also act as reminders to notify water treatment plant operators and the Spills Action Centre, available 24/7 at 1-(866)-663-8477, of spills and pollution.