The threats have been identified, now council here must develop a risk management plan to protect Deloro’s drinking water.

Immediate threats were found in two of four areas around Deloro’s main wellhead, Quinte Conservation source water protection project manager Keith Taylor told council last week.

“This is where the municipality comes into it,” Taylor said, adding either the municipality can hire an individual to develop the plan, or consider having Quinte Conservation oversee it.

The four areas surrounding the wellhead represent the differences in time it takes for water to travel from each area to Deloro’s main wellhead, Taylor said.

Within 100 metres of the wellhead, identified as wellhead protection area A, it would take mere hours for contaminated groundwater to reach the Deloro’s drinking water source.

Area B represents a two-year time of travel, while area’s C and D represent a five-year and 25-year time of travel and pose a much lower risk to Deloro’s wellhead.

Within protection areas A and B, 16 parcels of land with five significant drinking water threats were identified, Taylor said, including several homes with oil tanks, a municipal septic system, and sanitary sewers.

Eight parcels of farmland were also identified as threats because of their potential to house animals or have “agricultural source material” spread on them.

“They’re currently not being used, although we had to consider that someone could spread manure or have livestock — those properties could be used tomorrow for those activities,” Taylor said.

It will now be up to the municipality to ensure policies are developed for anything identified as a drinking water threat. For example, Taylor said, the municipality may have a policy outlining the proper use and maintenance of residential septic systems. Such policies are mandatory under the Ontario Clean Water Act.

“Once (the policies) are accepted by the ministry they’ll have to be integrated into your bylaws,” Taylor said.

Once the policies have been drafted, council will have the chance to review them and make comments.

“It’s a very extensive program,” he added.

via Drinking water protection plan to be crafted for Deloro – Community Press – Ontario, CA.