Drinking water protection for 160,000 residents in midwestern Ontario has been improved.
A source water protection plan for Saugeen, Grey Sauble, and Northern Bruce Peninsula now requires risk management for tanks of 250 litres and up, instead of 2,500.
Project Manager Carl Seider said newly approved amendments to the plan also include policy changes for salt application and storage.
"We've also been looking at making some amendments to the program to make salt management plans required for municipalities and large contractors," he said. "We again can find ways to reduce the amount, and following best management practices to limit the amount of salt that could potentially increase and get into ground water sources."
The Source Water Protection Plan uses a variety of approaches to protect municipal drinking water sources. That includes education, outreach, monitoring, and land use planning.
Seider said the goal is to ensure contaminants do not get into drinking water sources like aquifers, lakes, and rivers.
The Source Water Protection Plan for Saugeen, Grey Sauble, and Northern Bruce Peninsula has been in effect since 2015.