 Here is the final wording arrived at regarding protection of groundwater resources in Mississippi Mills, which was submitted Thursday, September 12, 2002 to the Mississippi Mills Official Plan Steering Committee. Many thanks to the dozen or so members who sent in comments and suggestions.Provincial Policy Statement
2.4 Water Quality and Quantity2.4.1 The quality and quantity of ground water and surface water and the function of sensitive ground water recharge/discharge area, aquifers and headwaters will be protected or enhanced.
MVFN Recommendations
Identification and inventory
Identify and delineate size, quantity, quality and location of all aquifer systems including headwaters and sensitive ground water recharge/discharge areas within the boundaries of Mississippi Mills, as well as those shared with adjacent municipalities.
Conduct an inventory of all current users of groundwater and amounts used, related to each specific aquifer. Inventory shall be updated every five years.
Develop an agreed upon criteria for assessing sources of discharge/recharge areas on private property.
Protection and Management
New industrial, commercial and institutional development requiring use of ground water shall necessitate an environmental impact study (EIS).
Protect, through buffer zones, site plan controls and other control mechanisms, all groundwater ecosystems.
Conduct an assessment report on all potential and known threats affecting the health of groundwater, including cumulative impacts. This report shall be renewed every five years.
Development activities and land uses which impact the land’s capacity to absorb rainwater into existing aquifer systems, shall be restricted.
Groundwater, as a renewable resource, must be managed sustainably. No extraction from an aquifer system shall be allowed which consumes groundwater at a greater rate than can be replenished by that system.
All development activities and land uses which may cause contamination of groundwater including recharge/discharge areas, shall be disallowed.
No new extraction of groundwater activities shall be allowed unless applicant can prove such water taking will have no detrimental impact on existing uses.
Private landowners impacted by enforcement of regulations concerning protection of groundwater and recharge/discharge areas shall be considered for compensation.
The municipality shall recognize and cooperate with landowners as stewards of their own environment.
References
Provincial Policy Statement 2.4.1
Having Regard-Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Annual Report 2001/2002
Changing Perspectives-Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Annual Report 1999/2000
Caring for Your Land-A Stewardship Handbook University of Guelph
Natural Heritage Planning Policy in Ontario-A Review of County and Regional OPs
Natural Heritage Reference Manual-For Policy 2.3 of PPS OMNR
Input from Canadian Evironmental Law Assocation, Ducks Unlimited, Federation of Ontario Naturalists and numerous comments from MVFN members.
Submitted by Cliff Bennett on behalf of MVFN |
