The Capital’s Waterways Could Be Swimmable by 2030

Scientists, community groups, and the Clean Water Act are behind Washington, D.C.’s massive project to reduce combined sewer overflows by 96%.

2021 Handbook of Florida Water Regulation: Clean Water Act

This handbook is designed to provide a summary of the principal federal and state (Florida) laws that directly or indirectly relate to agriculture. Because these laws are subject to constant revision, portions of the handbook could become outdated at any time. The reader should use it as a means to determine areas in which to seek more information and as a brief directory of agencies that can help answer more specific questions.

Risky business : the role of risk perception in the Ontario source water protection planning process

The purpose of this research was: 1. to investigate whether the perception of drinking water-related risk differs between the public and a Source Protection Committee established under Ontario's new Clean Water Act to make decisions about source water protection, 2. to explore how the public makes risk-based decisions about drinking water-related risk, and, 3. to estimate how any differences in drinking water-related risk perception and decision making between the Committee and the public may affect the implementation of the Clean Water Act. Mail and telephone surveys were conducted in a Southern Ontario Region of Study, and were given to samples of the public and the Committee. The two groups had different perceptions of water risk, which could pose challenges for making collective decisions about water risks. Successful source water protection depends on the ability of the Committees and the public to make appropriate decisions about risks to drinking water sources.

Biosecurity in agriculture [electronic resource] : a suggested strategy for the protection of source water against pathogenic contamination

To reduce the threat of pathogenic responses in humans, the Government of Ontario has introduced the Clean Water Act. The Act is intended to identify, characterize, and mitigate risks to vulnerable sources of drinking water. Applying the appropriate level of protection in those areas where land use activities contribute to the contamination of source water can be achieved through the use of biosecurity strategies comprised of operational measures to treat manure prior to storage and handling. Recent outbreaks of waterborne disease linked to manure management practices has resulted in an increased awareness of the potential risks that livestock operations pose to source water quality. This investigation demonstrated that currently available treatment technologies can significantly reduce pathogen concentrations in livestock manure; however the extent that these measures can be integrated into the proposed Clean Water Act is limited by the lack of controlled, replicated studies conducted at the commercial-scale.

Risky business : the role of risk perception in the Ontario source water protection planning process

The purpose of this research was: 1. to investigate whether the perception of drinking water-related risk differs between the public and a Source Protection Committee established under Ontario's new Clean Water Act to make decisions about source water protection, 2. to explore how the public makes risk-based decisions about drinking water-related risk, and, 3. to estimate how any differences in drinking water-related risk perception and decision making between the Committee and the public may affect the implementation of the Clean Water Act. Mail and telephone surveys were conducted in a Southern Ontario Region of Study, and were given to samples of the public and the Committee. The two groups had different perceptions of water risk, which could pose challenges for making collective decisions about water risks. Successful source water protection depends on the ability of the Committees and the public to make appropriate decisions about risks to drinking water sources.

Biosecurity in agriculture [electronic resource] : a suggested strategy for the protection of source water against pathogenic contamination

To reduce the threat of pathogenic responses in humans, the Government of Ontario has introduced the Clean Water Act. The Act is intended to identify, characterize, and mitigate risks to vulnerable sources of drinking water. Applying the appropriate level of protection in those areas where land use activities contribute to the contamination of source water can be achieved through the use of biosecurity strategies comprised of operational measures to treat manure prior to storage and handling. Recent outbreaks of waterborne disease linked to manure management practices has resulted in an increased awareness of the potential risks that livestock operations pose to source water quality. This investigation demonstrated that currently available treatment technologies can significantly reduce pathogen concentrations in livestock manure; however the extent that these measures can be integrated into the proposed Clean Water Act is limited by the lack of controlled, replicated studies conducted at the commercial-scale.

A capacity assessment and legislative review of the Clean Water Act in Ontario : past, present and future

Historically an unequal distribution of capacity existed among local Municipalities and Conservation Authorities with regards to protecting water in Ontario, as well there was no specific legislation pertaining solely to source water protection. The aim of this research project is to present and analyze through a comparative assessment, the financial capacity requirements and the technical, institutional, social and political capacity progress observed among the 19 Source Protection Regions across Ontario in terms of protecting source water following the Walkerton event and the enactment of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The results indicate that through the enactment of the CWA, capacity building initiatives have taken place through a top-down model with the provincial governments' guidance, direction and support to local municipalities and CAs. When the provincial government takes control and provides capacity related assistance, the lower level municipal and CA governments become regulated; functioning more effectively and with a level of consistency across the province.