SOURCE WATER PROTECTION
Administered under the Clean Water Act, the watershed-based Source Protection Program is the first step in a multi-barrier approach to protect drinking water. It complements municipal water treatment and supports sound land use planning decisions. ERCA, and other conservation authorities, have designated responsibilities under the Clean Water Act to work closely with stakeholders to ensure that our sources of municipal drinking water are safe and abundant.
2019 Achievements
- • Began required updates to the Essex Region Source Protection Plan and Assessment Report to ensure that our sources of drinking water are protected using the most current information available
- • Worked with municipal and provincial implementing bodies to implement 50 policies designed to protect our sources of drinking water
- • Completed 28 Risk Management Plans to address Significant Drinking Water Threats on behalf of municipalities
2020 Actions
- • 45 Risk Management Plans to address Significant Drinking Water Threats on behalf of municipalities to be completed in 2020
- • Continue updates to the Essex Region Source Protection, Section 36 Assessment Report and Annual Report.
2020 Pressures
• Source Water Protection identified as a Mandatory Program and Service in the Conservation Authorities Act, though continued funding remains uncertain
WATERSHED SCIENCE
Healthy watersheds are key element to the Place for Life. Our ability to track and report on changes to our watersheds and share that knowledge helps assess and understand current health and emerging trends as a basis for setting environmental management priorities, identify research gaps, and manage, protect or enhance watershed resources. ERCA undertakes its watershed science programs through partnerships with the Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network, Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network and the Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network. We also work with GLIER at the University of Windsor, Soil and Crop Associations and industry to encourage and monitor environmentally sustainable farming practices, and to support environmental stewardship, knowledge transfer, CW~GS incentive grants and collaborations.
2019 Achievements
- • Monitored surface water quality at 50 sites and groundwater quality at 8 sites around the region. In total, ERCA staff collected more than 2,500 water quality samples to evaluate watershed health
- • Monitored phosphorous levels getting into Lake Erie at the innovative 10 acre University of Windsor Alumni Association Wetland at Hillman Marsh with University of Windsor Biochemistry department.
- • Initiated development of a Phosphorous Management Plan with support from Environment and Climate Change Canada
- • Completed over 25 agricultural best management (e.g. cover crops, nutrient management plans, buffer strips) on over 500 hectares of land with support from Environment and Climate Change Canada as part of the implementation of the Lake Erie Action Plan.
2020 Actions
- • Continue development of a regional Phosphorus Management Plan and calculation of phosphorous loading in Leamington tributaries
- • Expand water quality monitoring program with support from the OSCIA through the ONFarm program and MECP.
- • Initiate a new partnership with Agriculture Canada as part of Canada's Living Lab program
- • Develop and implement over 50 nutrient and soil health projects with the farming community.