Transcript TARGETING NPS PROJECTS IN AN URBANIZING WATERSHED

Act for Clean Water
Source Water Protection Issues
Hamilton-Halton Watershed Stewardship Program
(HHWSP)
of
Hamilton Conservation Authority and
Conservation Halton
Sheila O’Neal, Coordinator
Greensville Community Subwatershed Study & Act for Clean Water Public
Information Centre #1
Christ Church, 92 Highway #8
Flamborough, Ontario
November 21, 2007
HHWSP
Landowners Take Action for Clean Water
Background:
• Pre 1994 - Carolinian Canada – Protection
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment’s
Clean Up Rural Beaches –
Restoration
• 1994 to Present – HHWSP – Protection and
Restoration
• 1999 – Hamilton-Wentworth Stewardship Council
(HWSC) - Survey
• 2003 to Present – City of Hamilton, HHWSP and
other partners – Decommissioning Abandoned Water
Wells Program
HHWSP
Landowners Take Action for Clean Water
Background:
• 2004 – City of Hamilton and HHWSP – Septic
Awareness Survey and Open Houses
• 2005 – Survey results recommendation:
Landowners should have their septic system
treatment or holding tanks inspected every one or
two years and pumped out every three to five years.
This is especially applicable to the community of
Greensville where the highest number of older
treatment/holding tanks was reported.
HHWSP
Landowners Take Action for Clean Water
Background:
• 2005 – Survey results recommendations:
Landowners should become familiar with signs of a
failing septic system or leaching bed in order to
identify when a treatment tank or leaching bed needs
to be replaced.
This is especially applicable in Greensville where the
highest number of leaching beds between the ages of
25 and 50 was reported.
HHWSP
Clean Water Act
• 2006 - Clean Water Act is part of the Ontario
government’s commitment to implement all of the
recommendations of the Walkerton Inquiry.
• For the first time, communities will be required to
create and carry out a plan to protect the sources of
their municipal drinking water supplies.
• The source protection process includes identifying
drinking water threats, assessing the risk of those
threats, preventing threats, and monitoring remaining
threats.
HHWSP
Ministry of the Environment Funding for
Education and Outreach
City of Hamilton as lead partner with the HHWSP will be
offering:
• Open houses in four municipal well areas and one in
the intake protection zone
• Presentations on Septic System Management
• Septic Tanks Pumped - Raffle
• Informational brochures
• Providing Well Aware and Septic System
Management DVDs to local libraries
• On-site visits to some landowners in 100 m radius
zone
HHWSP
Raffle Tonight
• Two landowners in the Flamborough area will win a
free pump out of their septic tank from:
Rankin’s Septic Tank Pumping and Environmental
Services
• Winners will invite a neighbour or two to come and
learn the importance of septic system maintenance –
demonstration opportunity
HHWSP
Ministry of the Environment Funding
Coming Soon
To landowners of properties:
- within 100 m radius of a municipal well
- within 200 m radius of a municipal surface water
intake
Examples of this funding are:
Water Well Decommissioning and Upgrading –
50% up to $6,000
Septic System Inspections and Upgrades – 50% up
to $10,000 and up to $20,000 for advanced systems
Runoff and Erosion Protection – 50% up to $20,000
HHWSP
City of Hamilton Funding Available Now
For Landowners in the City of Hamilton to:
- Decommission their Abandoned Water Wells
- 100% of the cost up to $1,000 with a limit of 2
wells per property
An abandoned well that is not properly filled, sealed
and capped poses risks such as a safety hazards for
children and animals and it provides a route for
contaminants to enter groundwater reserves. Protect
yourself, your family and neighbours by properly
decommissioning your well.
HHWSP
Now Introducing…
Katherine Rentsch, P. Eng.
Project Coordinator
Ontario Rural Wastewater Centre
HHWSP