Source Water Protection prevents drinking water sources from contamination and overuse. The goal is to ensure we have enough clean drinking water for generations to come.

“The first barrier to the contamination of drinking water involves protecting the sources of drinking water.  I recommend that the Province adopt a watershed-based planning process, led by the Ministry of the Environment and by the Conservation Authorities (where appropriate), and involving local actors.  The purpose is to develop a source protection plan for each watershed in the province…”
                                                       - Justice Dennis O’Connor, The Walkerton Inquiry, 2002

Much of the Clean Water Act, 2006 is based on recommendations from Commissioner Dennis O'Connor's Report of the Walkerton Inquiry.

Justice O’Connor concluded that source protection is one of the most effective and efficient means of protecting the safety of Ontario's drinking water. He also made 22 recommendations related to source water protection planning, including the need to develop legislation that would require source protection plans to be developed and implemented locally for every watershed in Ontario. For more information on the Walkerton Inquiry or to review the Ontario Ministry of the Environment’s progress on these recommendations visit the following links.

Status of Part One recommendations of the O'Connor Inquiry
Status of Part Two recommendations of the O'Connor Inquiry

Other barriers involved in the multi-barrier approach are up-to-date water treatment systems, reliable distribution systems, professional training for water managers and careful and regular testing of our water supplies. Source water protection also protects against overuse by determining how much water is available compared to how much is needed.

 Click here for a "Frequently Asked Questions" sheet on the drinking water source protection planning process.