Assessing the Effectiveness of Source Water Protection Plan in Saugeen Valley Source Protection Area

Abstract

The protection of drinking water sources is a cornerstone of public health, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience. This study critically evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of the source water protection plan within the Saugeen Valley Source Protection Area, established following Ontario’s landmark Clean Water Act of 2006, itself a legislative response to the Walkerton tragedy of 2000. Using a combined framework of performance and process evaluation, this research investigates the degree to which source water protection initiatives have improved water quality, influenced stakeholder engagement, addressed financial issues. Employing a qualitative mixed-method approach, data were gathered from semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders actively engaged in the source water protection implementation, supplemented by a comprehensive review of pertinent documents including water quality reports, committee minutes, financial records, and progress reports. Performance evaluation assessed tangible outcomes such as improvements in surface and groundwater quality indicators (phosphorus, E. coli, and macroinvertebrate populations), reliability and accessibility of safe drinking water, and aquatic ecosystem health. Complementing this, process evaluation examined governance elements including stakeholder participation levels, transparency, communications, institutional coordination, and financial continuity. Findings demonstrate significant advancements in source water quality within the Saugeen Valley Source Protection Area, notably through successful nutrient management strategies that substantially reduced phosphorus and nitrate contamination, and improvements in municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure which have enhanced microbial safety and ecosystem health. Stormwater infrastructure upgrades and targeted management plans have effectively mitigated contamination risks despite increasing extreme weather events. Institutional coordination between municipalities, conservation authorities, and provincial bodies emerged as critical, facilitated by ongoing multi-tier governance. However, challenges persist, notably due to the exclusion of private well systems from direct policy coverage, resulting in inadequate testing and persistent vulnerability. Despite strong initial stakeholder engagement, the study identified limitations in sustained inclusivity, particularly in formally incorporating Indigenous communities and private well users, indicating a need for ongoing, targeted engagement strategies. Additionally, financial sustainability remains precarious, relying on inconsistent provincial funding streams vulnerable to shifting political priorities. The study highlights anticipated challenges primarily arising from recent provincial legislative changes, particularly those altering the mandate of conservation authorities. Legislative shifts, notably Bills 66, 108, 229, and 23, have progressively limited conservation authorities' regulatory powers and environmental oversight capabilities. These legislative amendments risk undermining established water protection frameworks by prioritizing expedited development approvals and restricting comprehensive environmental assessments. Consequently, maintaining effective source water protection in the face of weakened oversight and financial uncertainty emerges as a central concern for sustaining the gains achieved under the source water protection plan.