Vacancy on the
Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Committee
There is an empty seat to fill on the Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Committee. Eligible candidates interested in representing the industrial/commercial sector and having some knowledge of water taking issues in the region are asked to send in their application by Thursday, September 3, 2009.
The 28-member Committee was formed in November 2007. The group is responsible for developing science-based source protection plans to protect the sources of water for 53 municipal drinking water systems within the Trent and Ganaraska River watersheds, an area covering 14,500 square kilometre area stretching from Algonquin Park to Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte. This work is being done under the auspices of Ontario’s Clean Water Act. Source Protection Plans are to be completed by 2012.
Eligibility criteria, an application form and details on how to apply are available at www.trentsourceprotection.on.ca. Representatives on the Committee receive a per diem and mileage. They act as a liaison for their sector, help resolve issues by working together with other members, attend meetings and public information sessions and make decisions regarding the development of Source Protection Plans for the region. A list of suggested qualifications and roles/responsibilities is found on the website.
The Source Protection Committee is composed of 28 individuals representing a variety of sectors:
- Seven municipal
- Three agricultural
- One aggregate/mining
- One recreation/tourism
- One industry/commercial (currently vacant)
- One economic development
- One environmental non-governmental organization
- One waterfront landowner
- Two drinking water experts
- One Trent-Severn Waterway
- Two general public
- Three First Nations
- Three liaison (Ministry of the Environment, Source Protection Authority, Health Unit)
The Clean Water Act (CWA) is part of Ontario’s response to the Walkerton tragedy of 2000. The CWA prescribes a process of watershed-based research, analysis and actions rooted in good science, public participation and sustained effort for keeping Ontario’s municipal drinking water safe. The province is divided into 19 Source Protection Regions for purposes of drinking water source protection. Each of these 19 regions has a Source Protection Committee directing the production of Source Protection Plans to protect municipal drinking water sources in their area. The Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region is one of those 19 regions.
Information about the Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Committee can be found at www.trentsourceprotection.on.ca
.