Developing the Plan

The Lakehead Source Protection Committee, with support from the Lakehead Source Protection Authority, is responsible for guiding the development of a Source Protection Plan for the Lakehead Source Protection Area.

The "Clean Water Act" sets out a three step process for developing the local, science based plan with regulations to produce three key documents: Terms of Reference, Assessment Report and Source Protection Plan.

The planning process began in July 2007 with a five-year timeline to complete the Source Protection Plan by August 2012. Public consultation plays an important role at every stage to ensure an open and transparent process.

Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference is the work plan that outlines tasks and duties, and who will perform the work in the development of the Assessment Report and the Source Protection Plan under the timelines specified in the Regulations of the “Clean Water Act, 2006”. The Municipal drinking water systems to be included in the planning process are identified along with planned costs associated with the delivery of the Assessment Report and Source Protection Plan.

The Terms of Reference for the Lakehead Source Protection Area was submitted on October 17, 2008 and approved by the Minister of Environment on May 25, 2009.

Assessment Report
The Assessment Report provides the scientific foundation for developing the Source Protection Plan. The Assessment Report will look at technical and scientific studies to identify threats and risks to the source water of Municipal residential drinking water systems identifed in the Terms of Reference.

The Assessment Report must be submitted to the Director of the Ministry of Environment by the Source Protection Authority by the first anniversary of the date that the Terms of Reference was approved. The deadline for submission of the Lakehead Source Protection Area Assessment Report is May 25, 2010.

The Lakehead Source Protection Committee started work on development of the Assessment Report in early 2010 and is working on schedule to meet the deadline for submission.

Source Protection Plan
The Source Protection Plan is a strategic document for a Source Protection Area that outlines policies and procedures to ensure that all significant and potential threats to the sources of Municipal residential drinking water systems are managed in a way that they will never become significant drinking water risks. The plan will address policies to assist meeting Great Lakes targets.

Municipalities will play a central role in the implementation and enforcement of the Source Protection Plan which will be monitored and revised as required by the Source Protection Committee. The Source Protection Plan for the Lakehead Source Protection Area must be submitted to the Minister of Environment by the Lakehead Source Protection Authority by August 20, 2012. This is the deadline for all Source Protection Plans across the province. The Minister of Environment will approve the Source Protection Plan and any subsequent revisions to the plan.