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==Overview==

==Overview==

In response to the [https://environmentaldefence.ca/2020/06/01/walkerton-tragedy-ontario-new-water-crisis/ Walkerton Tragedy] in May of 2000, where 2,500 residents of the town fell ill due to ingesting high levels of E.coli bacteria and 7 individuals died due to poor monitoring and maintenance of the drinking water system, the Province of Ontario enacted new legislation to ensure Ontarians drinking water sources are adequately protected.

In response to the [https://environmentaldefence.ca/2020/06/01/walkerton-tragedy-ontario-new-water-crisis/ Walkerton tragedy] in May of 2000, where 2,500 residents of the town fell ill due to ingesting high levels of E.coli bacteria and 7 individuals died due to poor monitoring and maintenance of the drinking water system, the Province of Ontario enacted new rules and safeguards to ensure drinking water sources are adequately protected. Following an inquiry into the Walkerton tragedy, Justice O'Connor made over 120 recommendations to better protect the province's drinking water, which have formed the foundation of the province's source water protection framework. The first of the [http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/e_records/walkerton/index.html Walkerton Inquiry] recommendations was that drinking water should be protected by developing watershed-based source water protection plans.

 

The [https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/06c22 Clean Water Act] (Government of Ontario, 2021)<ref name="example1">Government of Ontario. 2021. Source protection. Environment and Energy - Drinking Water. 13 October 2021. Accessed: 26 May 2022. https://www.ontario.ca/page/source-protection#section-0</ref> requires municipalities to protect their drinking water sources and supplies through prevention by developing collaborative, watershed-based source water protection plans.

Following an inquiry into the Walkerton event, Justice, O'Connor at the time made over 120 recommendations to better protect the province's drinking water, which have now been implemented and are the foundation of the province's drinking water protection framework. The first of the [http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/e_records/walkerton/index.html Walkerton Inquiry] recommendations was that drinking water should be protected by developing watershed-based source water protection plans, which have been in place since 2006 with the adoption of the [https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/06c22 Clean Water Act] (Government of Ontario, 2021)<ref name="example1">Government of Ontario. 2021. Source protection. Environment and Energy - Drinking Water. 13 October 2021. Accessed: 26 May 2022. https://www.ontario.ca/page/source-protection#section-0</ref>

 

The Clean Water Act requires municipalities to protect their drinking water sources and supplies through prevention by developing collaborative, watershed-based source water protection plans.

{{textbox|Under the Clean Water Act the legislation describes newly developed source water protection ''areas'' and source water protection ''regions''.  

{{textbox|Under the Clean Water Act the legislation describes newly developed source water protection ''areas'' and source water protection ''regions''.