Twenty-five years after the Walkerton drinking water tragedy, the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) is taking steps to address gaps in rural water safety.
To mark the anniversary, FOCA has completed Phase One of a rural source water protection pilot project focused on private water systems – a largely unregulated sector affecting nearly three million Ontarians. The pilot, supported by Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, was carried out at Crego Lake in the City of Kawartha Lakes in partnership with the Kinmount Park Estates Association.
The project assessed risks to local water sources, including threats from septic systems, fuel storage, and fractured bedrock geology. Engineering consultants and volunteers worked with residents to develop community-specific strategies aimed at protecting drinking water.
A recent survey found that 90 per cent of Crego Lake residents said they had learned more about their drinking water and would take at least one action to reduce risks, such as testing well water, avoiding pesticides, or improving septic maintenance.
FOCA CEO Lesley Lavender said the project brings to life the recommendations of the Walkerton Inquiry by empowering rural communities. “This project brings the principles of the Walkerton Inquiry to life for rural Ontario – helping to empower rural residents to understand the risks, their role, and to take action to protect what matters most: safe, clean water,” Lavender said.
Phase Two will expand the pilot to three additional lake-based communities this summer, with the goal of developing a volunteer-led, province-wide source water protection protocol.
For more information, visit foca.on.ca.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
