Council here is considering options for handling risk management provisions of the township’s new responsibilities for source water protection, including a proposal to share a risk management official with other municipalities in Wellington County.
At the Jan. 8 meeting council discussed a report from Wellington County planning director Gary Cousins that notes that provincial requirements for municipalities to have Source Water Protection Plans in place will take effect sometime in 2013 and “municipalities will begin incurring new costs to implement the plans.”
Since lower tier municipalities in Wellington have the authority for the production, treatment and storage of water, they will become the enforcement authority under the source water protection legislation.
The legislation requires both risk management officials and risk management inspectors be appointed.
Officials will be responsible for working with landowners to ensure compliance with the source water plan and entering into risk management plans, while inspectors will conduct inspections to ensure compliance.
Both positions require specialized training.
Municipalities have a choice between implementing their source water plans themselves, working with other municipalities or delegating to a conservation authority or health unit. They cannot delegate to the county.
Cousins suggested the county could consider funding a risk management official, who would be an employee of one municipality but deliver the service to all seven Wellington municipalities. The system would be similar to the way the county funds a fire training officer, employed by one municipality but shared by all seven.
Cousins also suggested local municipalities could assign the risk management inspection responsibilities to local building officials.
“While local building officials often face heavy workloads, this would likely be the most cost-effective way to provide this service,” the report states.
Councillor Mike Downey suggested delegating the responsibility to the Grand River Conservation Authority might be the best option as “they do most of the work on source water as it is.”
Mayor Bruce Whale stated, “the health unit is not interested in providing the service and I’m not sure the conservation authorities are either.”
“This is old now,” Downey said of the county report, dated Oct. 31. “We should have an updated report.”
Councillor Andy Knetsch said, “When I look at the effectiveness of the fire training officer, I support the recommendation to enter into an agreement to put a risk management officer in place.”
Council indicated general support for the recommendations. Whale was directed to obtain more information about the township’s options.
