Drinking water is one of our most precious commodities and most people don’t know where it comes from.

Everyone should know where their water comes from and that it is being protected.

Did you know Waterloo Region relies on groundwater for drinking water which comes from underground aquifers?

When it rains or snow melts, the water soaks into the ground to fill the spaces between sand grains, rock or gravel in the aquifer.

The Region of Waterloo manages over 120 wells that supply groundwater to homes and businesses; meanwhile, there are thousands of private wells that get water from various depths.

Join us on March 5 to listen to experts and community members talk about the importance of protecting our groundwater and the threats to it.

Then join other community members in meeting with our local councillors/mayors. This is the perfect opportunity to engage in conversations that are important to you.

Sign-in early and stay a bit later to listen to local environmental musicians

***Special attention to people on private wells. You don't want to miss the information you will learn at this event.

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Agenda

6:45 pm ** Listen to music from a local musician

7:00 pm ** Event starts

7:10 pm ** What is groundwater? Learn about where our drinking water comes from and why it is important to protect it.

7:20 pm ** Guest expert Simon Courtenay: Director of the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS) at University of Waterloo

Your own health is the sum of all things that go on. What we end up with is the sum of what has gone on and what will go on in the area. It is much easier to keep water clean in the first place than correct it later. If you have 1 thing in water you can predict the effects. If you have 2 or 3 or 4 things it starts getting much harder.

7:35 pm ** Guest expert Susan Bryant: Elmira groundwater contamination expert.

Preventing contamination in the first place is the only real option for the environment—the cheapest and most effective one

7:50 pm ** Guest expert Theresa McClenaghan: Executive Director and Counsel for Canada’s Environmental Law Association

What is the Source Protection Plan? How is it related to Walkerton? How are risks to our water identified and how can it be the SPP be improved? Our municipal wells are protected by the SPP but our private wells are not.

8:10 pm ** Sam Lernout: Citizens for Safe Ground Water

8:20 pm ** Leah Gerber: Grand River Watershed Reporter at Waterloo Region Record

8:30 pm ** 'Townhall' breakout rooms with local councillors/mayors and fellow community members.

** Listen to music by a local musician

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This event is being organized by Citizen's for Safe Ground Water

https://www.safeh2o.ca/

Visit our website to learn more about our current campaigns

We are also always actively looking for volunteers in order to better protect our water. Email us at [email protected]

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"Members of the public are invited to read and comment on the draft Updated Drinking Water Source Protection Plan for the Grand River watershed. The deadline for comments is March 8, 2021. The plan has been prepared under the Clean Water Act, 2006 to protect municipal sources of drinking water and ensure their sustainable use into the future. "https://www.sourcewater.ca/en/source-protection-areas/source-protection-plan-update.aspx

ATTENTION- Submit your comments by March 8

Online Source Protection Plan map https://maps.grandriver.ca/swp-policymapping/

Water activities and worksheets for the family  https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/living-here/water-and-wastewater-teaching-resources.aspx

Source Water Protection Plan Update https://www.sourcewater.ca/en/source-protection-areas/source-protection-plan-update.aspx