The ongoing water management plan for the Grand River watershed is flowing along.
Sandra Cooke, senior water quality supervisor with the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), presented Guelph-Eramosa council with a draft plan at its meeting May 20 and Wellington North council at its May 26 meeting.
Cooke said the focus of the plan includes ensuring sustainable water supplies, improving water quality, reducing flood damage potential and increasing resiliency to deal with climate change in the 6,800 square kilometre watershed with its 11,000 kilometers of rivers and streams.
The watershed has a population of about 985,000 people and is predicted to reach 1.53 million by 2051. Municipal drinking water comes from more than 100 municipal wells and four river intakes.
An estimated 30 sewage treatment plants empty into the river system, with several municipalities planning to upgrade their plants to lessen future impact on the water.
According to Cooke about 70 per cent of the watershed is actively farmed.
“Fertilizers, farm chemicals and animal waste must be properly stored, handled and used to minimize impact on rivers, streams and groundwater,” the draft report states. “Erosion needs to be addressed to protect farmland and water quality.”
The draft water management plan has been put together through a partnership of municipalities, several provincial ministries, the GRCA and Six Nations of the Grand River.
The plan is a voluntary, collaborative process that brings various agencies together as partners, but is not legally binding, Cooke told council.
Council delayed supporting the draft report in principle, opting instead to receive it.
Guelph-Eramosa Mayor Chris White suggested council needed more information on whether the municipality would be liable for any actions proposed in the plan.
“We would need to know what that means,” the mayor said, referring to accepting the plan in principle. “I think we need some more communication so we can figure out where we fit in.”
Wellington North unanimously endorsed the plan in principle.
