Source Water Protection

Ask anyone and they will probably tell you that having access to a source of safe, reliable drinking water is incredibly important. Keeping our water sources safe from contaminants is something that we all have to work toward.

Source water is the raw, untreated water that we take from lakes, rivers and underground aquifers to supply people with drinking water. “Drinking water source protection” means protecting these sources of drinking water from contamination and overuse. Drinking water source protection initiatives help to educate, monitor, and protect important sources of drinking water throughout Ontario. The focus is on prevention.

The Municipality of Bluewater is located within the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region. There are three source water protection zones within Bluewater, located in the communities of Brucefield, Varna and Zurich. Watch for the blue and white road signs nearby that identify the drinking water protection zone in your community.

The Clean Water Act, 2006, requires the Municipality of Bluewater to have a drinking source protection plan in place to protect water sources that supply municipal wells. Source protection plans contain the policies to protect local drinking water sources. For Bluewater, the plan is administered by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. Please consult with risk management officials when proposing to build within a drinking water source protection zone.