Drinking Water Protection Zone
Drinking Water Protection Zone is an official designation in the Canadian province of Ontario for areas that feed a well or municipal water supply. Road signs identify a “Drinking Water Protection Zone” with a graphic of a water glass. These signs are a standardized sign used across the province to indicate areas where a spill of toxic liquids including oil could impact a source of water for a municipal drinking water system.[1][2]
The signs are part of a large effort in Ontario known as Drinking Water Source Protection.[3] There are approximately 800 signs installed across the province.[4][5]
Criteria for location of road signs
[edit]The road signs indicate intake protection zones and wellhead protection areas around the municipal drinking water systems where a spill could be a significant drinking water threat.[6] These zones were determined by calculating how quickly surface water and groundwater move toward municipal intakes and wells.
Purpose of the signs
[edit]The primary purpose of the signs is to remind first responders the locations where a spill could impact a municipal drinking water source. In the event of a spill in the drinking water protection zones it is important to notify the appropriate authorities including the Ontario government's Spills Action Centre[7] and the operators of the municipal drinking systems that a spill has occurred. It may be necessary for the operator to shut down the system so that contaminants do not enter the system.
A secondary purpose is to raise public awareness of the Source Protection Program. Many people do not know or consider where their water comes from and that human activities on the land can negatively impact the quality of the drinking water. It is therefore a key component of the overall education and outreach efforts of the Source Protection Committees across the province.
References
[edit]- ^ "Municipal drinking water systems: licensing, registration and permits". Ontario: Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
- ^ "Street signs traced to Walkerton drinking water tragedy". The Sarnia Journal. 2018-02-16. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
- ^ "Source Water Protection // Conservation Ontario". Conservation Ontario. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
- ^ "Signs encourage protection". The Belleville Intelligencer. August 9, 2016.
- ^ "City of Barrie installs new drinking water protection zone signs". Barrie: CTV News. 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
- ^ "Drinking Water Threats". Quinte Sourcewater. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
- ^ "Report pollution and spills". Government of Ontario.
External links
[edit]- "Source protection: Learn about the importance of protecting the sources of our drinking water". Government of Ontario. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
- intake protection zones Quinte Source Water
- wellhead protection areas Quinte Source Water
- "Drinking water protection zone signs in your region". Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
- "New drinking water protection zone signs installed". City of North Bay. Archived from the original on 2017-06-15. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
- "Drinking Water Protection Zone Signs". Mississippi-Rideau Source Water Protection. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
- "News - Keep Your Eyes Open". Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority (SSMRCA). July 1, 2016. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
Drinking Water Protection Zone signs in Sault Ste. Marie are part of a provincial awareness initiative about protecting drinking water sources.
- "Drinking Water Protection Zone Road Signs" (PDF). Drinking Water Source Protection. May 3, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
- "New Road Signs Identify Municipal Drinking Water Protection Zones". Otonabee Region Conservation Authority. 2018-03-19. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
- "Education and Outreach for Source Protection: Drinking Water Protection Zone Road Signs" (PDF). County of Brant. July 14, 2017.[permanent dead link]