Council here is considering its options as the province moves towards source water protection plans by 2013.
The provincial government is spending an estimated $270 million to develop source water protection plans across the province after the 2000 Walkerton water tragedy claimed seven lives due to e-coli contamination in the town’s drinking water.
Two source water protection committees have been having ongoing discussions about what local plans might involve through the local conservation authorities.
Both authorities have jurisdiction in parts of Minto. Among them is the Ausable Bayfield/Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. The plan could apply to drinking water sources in Harriston, Palmerston and rural areas around them, while Clifford and Minto Pines fall under the jurisdiction of the Saugeen Grey Sauble North Peninsula committee.
Ausable planner Jenna Allain presented council, at its March 20 meeting, with an update of how the plan may look when it is finally approved.
In 2007 the province set up 40 source water protection regions governed by 19 committees. The committees have been meeting to discuss and map source water locations, potential threats, ways to rank the sources and avoid pollution and ways to remedy possible spills.
Minto council will also have a choice of which plan of the two it adopts.
Policy development has been underway since 2011. Minto council had its first look at the plan in late February. A proposed plan is expected to go out for public consultation in May, with a final plan submission to the province expected in August this year.
Plan implementation should start next year and will include annual monitoring and reporting and updates and improvements as required.
The Ausable plan, according to Allain, is expected to impact land use planning decisions, depending on the final report requirements.
“No new residential lots will be approved unless they have sanitary service,” she predicted. “Land use planning decisions must conform once the plan takes affect.”
What has councillors concerned is the potential cost of implementing the plan in Minto and possible requirement for a full-time staff position to oversee it.
“Municipalities will certainly take on more responsibilities and there will be cost implications,” Allain said.
Municipalities, including Minto, have been lobbying the provincial government to see whether it will fund any additional local costs when the plan is put out.
“The two plans are distinctly different,” Minto clerk Bill White told the Advertiser. “The town had a delegation to the Minister of Municipal Affairs Kathleen Wynne at the Ontario Good Roads and Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference in Toronto on Feb. 26 asking the province to reconsider the implementation of the source protection program across the province due to the cost and confusion created by these complicated plans.”
However, Mayor George Bridge does not expect provincial money for municipalities will be forthcoming prior to the plan being put in place.
“I don’t think any cheque is falling out of the envelope,” the mayor said.
White is expected to report back to council on the two plans.
“At this point council has asked me to report back on which source protection the town should accept even though council is not convinced the implementation of either plan will be practical, possible or protect water systems any more,” White added.
