The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Committee has a new chair.
The province has appointed Matt Pearson. Pearson has served as an environmental representative on the committee since it was formed in 2007 and as interim chair in 2016, replacing Larry Brown who retired.
Pearson says when the committee's plan was approved about a year and a half ago there was a lot of concern in the farming community. He says many of the wells that had to be protected were on agricultural land and farmers were concerned about additional regulations and cost.
Pearson explains education has played a large part in easing some of those concerns.
The committee is now in a management mode that involves implementing some of the recommendations that came out of the plan. There are now risk management officers who work with property owners to develop a plan unique to their property.
Pearson adds part of the plan includes a five-year review, so in about a year and a half the committee will take a look at the plan.