The Clean Water Act is a piece of provincial legislation that enables communities to better protect those rivers, lakes and aquifers that supply their municipal drinking water. The Act requires that policies be developed to address potentially harmful activities taking place close to municipal wells or water treatment plant intakes – areas where the release of a chemical or pathogen could contaminate the source of municipal drinking water. Under the Act:

• Local Source Protection Committees are established to oversee the process
• Terms of Reference are developed outlining key tasks and responsibilities
• An Assessment Report is completed identifying where sources of drinking water must be protected and from what threats
• A Source Protection Plan is developed outlining policies that will protect source water from contamination and overuse  

Municipalities, Conservation Authorities, farmers, businesses, industry, First Nations, environmental groups, residents, community groups and the public will work together to complete this work.

Why was the Clean Water Act Created?

In May 2000, seven people died and 2300 were made ill after Walkerton’s drinking water became contaminated with bacteria. The government of Ontario established a public inquiry into this tragedy led by the Honourable Dennis O'Connor. A key recommendation of the Walkerton Inquiry was the need for watershed-based source protection. The Clean Water Act directly addresses 12 recommendations, and supports the implementation of 22 other recommendations of the Walkerton Inquiry.

How Was it Created?

Clean Water Act
In 2004, the Ontario government issued a White Paper on drinking water source protection. Based on the results of public consultation sessions and the findings of two expert advisory committees, the government introduced the Clean Water Act on December 5, 2005. The draft Act was posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights for public comment. The Bill was then debated in the legislature and referred to the Standing Committee On Social Policy for review. The Standing Committee held five public hearings in August 2006 (Toronto, Walkerton, Cornwall, Bath and Peterborough). They heard from over 100 different individuals and groups and they also received written submissions. In September, 2006 the Standing Committee made over 120 amendments to the Act to address public comments. The revised Act was then debated again in the legislature and received Royal Assent on October 19, 2006. It became law in July, 2007.

Regulations
When an Act becomes law regulations are introduced containing details about how certain aspects of the Act are to be carried out. There are currently four regulations under the Clean Water Act. All regulations were posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights for at least one public comment period.