Have you seen these signs?

Their goal is to raise awareness about Drinking Water Protection Zones that surround a community’s shared drinking water source. These zones now have some special protections under the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan – a locally developed plan under Ontario’s Clean Water Act. The signs can be found in similar zones across the Province!

The zones are in communities, in specific areas around their municipal water sources. Depending on the community, the source may be a well that draws water from an aquifer or an intake that takes water from a river.

The zones were determined through scientific and technical studies that were done to help understand the drinking water source and map the zones, and in these areas some special policies are in place to help protect the drinking water source.

The signs could help inform first responders too! The signs can reaffirm the importance of spill prevention and help to ensure appropriate spill response.

If you live in a Drinking Water Protection Zone, you are encouraged to make small changes that will help to protect rivers and underground aquifers. You might already be doing some things that help you to be a Great Water Resident! Check out some ideas on our Living in the Zone page!

To find out more information about what these signs mean, please view our Fact Sheet