On September 30, the Government of Ontario announced the approval of source protection plans for both the Sudbury and Catfish Creek areas. Source protection plans aim to protect water quality in lakes, rivers, and underground sources that supply municipal drinking water by setting out actions to eliminate, manage, or reduce potential risks.
Brownsville is the lone municipal drinking water system supplied by Catfish Creek, while the Sudbury area includes six systems.
The Catfish Creek Source Protection Plan was developed by local municipal and community partners on the Lake Erie region source protection committee, and will take effect on January 1, 2015. The Sudbury Source Protection Plan is the work of the Sudbury source protection committee, and will come into effect on April 1, 2015.
“Staff of the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority and Oxford Country have put a lot of effort into ensuring Brownsville residents will continue to have access to safe, high-quality municipal drinking water,” said Craig Ashbaugh, chair of the Lake Erie region source protection committee. “Commendations are to be extended for a job well done to staff at the Grand River Conservation Authority who managed the process, oversaw the scientific studies and helped develop the policies.”
