Source Protection Plan

Important Update to the Grand River Source Protection Plan

The Grand River Source Protection Plan, which includes the City of Brantford Drinking Water System, is being updated to reflect new technical data. Public consultation on these updates will take place from February 3, 2025, to March 10, 2025.

What is the Source Protection Plan?

Under Ontario’s Clean Water Act (2006), municipalities and conservation authorities developed Source Protection Plans to safeguard municipal drinking water. These plans:

  • Identify vulnerable areas around municipal water sources
  • List activities that may pose a risk to water quality
  • Include policies to reduce these risks

The Grand River Source Protection Plan took effect on July 1, 2016, following public consultation and direct notification to affected property owners.
Why is the Plan being updated?

Since 2016, new technical data has become available for the City of Brantford Drinking Water System. Updates include:

  • Revised mapping of vulnerable areas
  • Updated data on land use, livestock density, and impervious surfaces in Intake  Protection Zones
  • Policy revisions to address drinking water threats based on this new information

Additionally, in 2021, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks updated the Technical Rules for identifying drinking water threats. Each time a Source Protection Plan is amended, policies must align with these new rules through a process known as a conformity exercise.

Public Consultation and How to Get Involved

Ontario law (O. Reg. 287/07) requires public consultation for any Source Protection Plan updates. The Lake Erie Region Source Protection Committee is leading this process and invites public comments between February 3 and March 10, 2025.

To learn more:

  • View a presentation explaining the updates at www.sourcewater.ca
  • Review the amended sections of the Plan (available starting February 3, 2025) online at www.sourcewater.ca
  • Review the amended sections of the Plan in person by visiting  the Grand River Conservation Authority (400 Clyde Road, Cambridge) or Brantford City Hall (58 Dalhousie Street,)

For questions, email comments@sourcewater.ca or call the Grand River Conservation Authority at 519-621-2761 Ext. 2318.

Source Water Protection Program

The City of Brantford is committed to the delivery of safe, high quality drinking water to the residents and businesses of our community. Brantford is located in the Grand River watershed. Brantford’s source water protection policies are part of the Grand River Source Protection Plan, which is in turn part of the Lake Erie Source Protection Region.  An amendment to the Grand River Source Protection Plan completed under section 34 of the Clean Water Act, 2006 was approved on September 9, 2024 and came into effect on September 11, 2024. The City of Brantford, the Grand River Conservation Authority and the Source Protection Committee invited residents, businesses and organizations to provide information about, and receive feedback on Brantford’s Source Protection Plan as it was developed.

Salt and Snow Management

Road salt and snow plowing help keep our outdoor surfaces safe, but also impact water quality in the Grand River. Learn more by visiting our Salt and snow management page.

Pesticide Management

Pesticides are commonly used to get rid of unwanted insects and weeds, but also impact water quality in the Grand River. Learn more by visiting our Pesticide management page.

Grand River Source Protection Plan

The Grand River Source Protection Plan establishes the policies and programs for managing significant drinking water threats, and identifies:

  • the approach to policy development
  • who is responsible for taking action (the implementing body)
  • timelines
  • how progress will be measured

Brantford's Source Protection Plan

City staff, the Grand River Conservation Authority and the Source Protection Committee worked diligently to prepare Brantford's Source Protection Plan. The plan was locally developed and contains policies to either prohibit or manage activities that have been prescribed as significant drinking water threats in accordance with the Clean Water Act (CWA). 

Explanatory Document

The Explanatory Document provides background and rationale for selecting specific policy approaches to address the drinking water threats.

Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference outline the steps taken to develop and implement a Source Protection Plan. It sets out the roles and responsibilities of municipalities, Conservation Authorities, and the Ministry of the Environment, and includes all municipal water supply sources protected by the Grand River Source Protection Plan. 

Assessment Report

The Assessment Report is a science-based document that describes the study area, and identifies vulnerable areas.