Source Water Protection

The Ontario Clean Water Act, 2006 established local source protection committees responsible for developing source protection plans. The Cataraqui Source Protection Authority is one of three authorities overseeing the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley, alongside the Rideau Valley/Mississippi and South Nation authorities. The Act outlines the guidelines for source water protection plans, which include education and outreach policies that municipalities and other organizations must implement to help protect drinking water sources.

Source water protection aligns directly with both the Township’s vision and mission statements, as it works to safeguard the Township’s sensitive groundwater resources. It also supports the protection of the City of Brockville’s Intake Protection Zone, which falls within the Township’s boundaries.

The City's municipal drinking water system provides piped water to residents of the City as well as to select properties located west of the City limits, within the Township.

The Brockville Water Treatment Plant draws its water from the St. Lawrence River via an intake pipe, located approximately 300 meters offshore at a depth of 10.5 meters. This vital water source is treated and distributed to approximately 22,000 residents and businesses in the City of Brockville, as well as around 1,000 residents in the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley.

In accordance with the Clean Water Act, an Intake Protection Zone (IPZ) is established around the intake pipe to ensure the protection of the drinking water supply. This designated area, which includes both land and water, is critical for safeguarding the source of municipal drinking water.

The Brockville IPZ is divided into two parts:

• IPZ-1: The area closest to the intake pipe, extending one kilometer upstream and 120 meters onto the shore. This zone is the most sensitive and requires immediate protection measures.

• IPZ-2: This broader zone includes both onshore and offshore areas, where flowing water or contaminants could potentially reach the intake pipe within two hours, requiring proactive monitoring and action to preserve water quality.

By maintaining these protection zones, we help ensure the continued safety and sustainability of our community’s drinking water supply.

A drinking water threat is any activity that has the potential to harm the quality or quantity of water used as a source of drinking water.

Some common threats include:

• Hazardous Waste Spills/Accidents

• Storage of Hazardous and Liquid Wastes

• Septic Systems

• Road Salt

• Improper Well Testing

Top Ten Actions You Can Take to Help Keep Drinking Water Sources Clean in Your Community:

1. Handle and Dispose of Waste Properly:

   • Reduce your waste production.

   • Use local hazardous waste collection programs.

   • Pick up pet waste.

2. Maintain Heating Oil Tanks and Fill Lines:

   • Inspect your oil tank regularly.

   • Upgrade to a modern fuel tank.

   • Install a drip pan and oil line/gauge protectors.

3. Maintain and Use Septic Systems Properly:

   • Know the location of your tank and septic beds and protect them from damage.

   • Have the tank pumped out every three to five years.

   • Conserve water.

   • Avoid the use of bleach and harsh cleaning products.

4. Maintain Wells:

   • Inspect your well at least once a year.

   • Keep potential pollutants (i.e., livestock, septic systems, fuel sources, gardens) away from your well.

   • Test your well water regularly for bacterial contamination.

   • Hire a licensed well contractor to upgrade your well or properly plug unused wells:

     • Be sure to use a Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change licensed contractor for well upgrades and to properly decommission an unused well.

5. Avoid or Limit the Use of Road Salt:

   • Wear sturdy footwear.

   • Switch to snow tires.

   • Use traction aids (i.e., sand).

   • Practice smart salt application.

   • Stop snow and ice from accumulating by shoveling and sweeping as soon as possible after or during a snowfall.

   • Pile snow away from storm sewers so that it will not run across paved surfaces when it melts. Snow may melt during the day and freeze on the pavement at night, requiring more salt.

6. Practice Smart Agriculture:

   • Fence livestock away from watercourses.

   • Practice conservation tillage.

   • Mix/apply chemicals away from water bodies.

   • Follow the manufacturer’s directions for storage and application methods.

   • Establish and maintain a buffer zone near watercourses.

7. Practice Water Conservation:

   • Use a rain barrel to water your garden.

   • Install low-flow showerheads and toilets.

   • Fix leaking taps.

8. Use Green Products for:

   • Household cleaning.

   • Personal care.

   • Lawn care.

9. Work Together to Find Opportunities in Your Community to Better Protect Water.

Protecting our drinking water sources can be easy. Small actions make a difference. Your actions matter.