Safe drinking water starts with you! The City of Barrie provides safe and reliable drinking water to its community. Whether you are a developer, business owner or homeowner you can do your part to help protect this great resource.
Explore the Source Water Protection story map for detail about source water, drinking water threats, protection areas, and much more.
Monitoring
The City undertakes weekly Escherichia coli (E. coli) testing for surface and groundwater drinking water systems and in the effluent at the Wastewater Treatment Facility. This monitoring is undertaken to protect human health and ensure regulatory compliance. The City also undertakes a monthly surface water quality monitoring program of creeks as part of our source water protection program and to ensure compliance with provincial Environmental Compliance Approvals.
As outlined in a September 10 2025 memo to City Council re Water Quality Sampling Dyments Creek, staff are advancing a more robust sampling program that will include E. coli in all monitored City creeks – with consideration for multiple sampling locations and different weather conditions.
Source Water Protection 101
Source water is the untreated water from streams, lakes, rivers or underground aquifers that is used to supply people with drinking water. In Barrie, a mix of surface water, from Kempenfelt Bay, and groundwater make up the drinking water supply.
Source Water Protection is about protecting our sources of drinking water from overuse and contamination. It’s one component of Ontario’s multi-barrier approach to ensure clean and safe drinking water from source to tap. The best way to ensure we have safe drinking water now, and in the future, is to protect it at its source.
In May 2000 the water supply of the small town of Walkerton, Ontario became contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Seven residents died and thousands became ill dubbing this tragedy the worst water related outbreak in Canada.
In response to the Walkerton water contamination tragedy, the Province of Ontario developed the Clean Water Act with a goal of safeguarding municipal drinking water from source to tap. Source Water Protection is now at the forefront of municipal planning.
Intake Protection Zone:
An Intake Protection Zone (IPZ) is the area that surrounds the surface water intake pipe. The IPZ includes the water and the land that surrounds the intake, and takes into account how fast water could reach the intake pipe.Image
Wellhead Protection Areas:
A Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA) is the area of land surrounding a municipal well, which contributes water to the well. Within the WHPA, protective measures are implemented to safeguard the groundwater supply from sources of contamination.Image
Potential threats to drinking water sources include:
- Handling, storage and application of pesticides, fertilizers and animal waste
- Handling and storage of hazardous chemicals such as fuel and solvents
- Road salt used for de-icing roads, walkways and parking areas
- Septic systems and sewage works
- Waste disposal sites
Our local Source Protection Plan is a science-based plan to protect our municipal drinking water supply from threats of contamination and overuse. Policies in the Source Protection Plan require government, businesses, developers and residents to take action to make sure drinking water sources are protected from potential threats.
Information for Homeowners & Residents
There are actions you can take each day to help keep your drinking water clean.
Discharge your pool or hot tub across your lawn, so your lawn can absorb most of the water. Never drain your pool or hot tub on a rainy day as it makes it harder for the lawn to absorb the water. Do not add chemicals to your pool or hot tub for two weeks before draining.
How to safely discharge chlorinated water:
- Super Chlorinate to get rid of the bacteria, algae, and organic matter.
- De-Chlorinate the water before discharging by placing a de-chlorination tablet in the water then letting it. Sit for two weeks or longer to allow the chlorine to dissipate.
- Run the pump to circulate the water an assist the dissipation of the chlorine. Sunlight will also help.
- Filter backwash water and de-chlorinate before discharging.
- Test your pool, hot tub, or spa water to make sure chemical levels are as close to zero as possible before discharging.
- Discharge your pool, spa, or hot tub water across your lawn.
To discharge saltwater pools, it is recommended to discharge to the sanitary sewer system connection on your property, drain onto your lawn, or have the salt water hauled by a Ministry of the Environment approved and licenced hauler if it cannot be discharged into the City’s sanitary sewer system or solely onto your lawn.Be aware of hazardous products and do your part to make sure that they do not enter the environment.
- Select non-toxic products whenever possible
- Use and store hazardous products carefully
- Never pour hazardous chemicals down the drain. Dispose of them at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Depot, located at the landfill site.
- If any chemicals are spilled, clean-up the spill right away!
Visit www.makethedrop.ca to find other nearby drop off sites for certain hazardous wastes. Visit www.healthsteward.ca to find other nearby drop off sites for medications and sharps (needles).
For more information please refer to the Chemicals Fact Sheet.
Over time, the salt we put on the ground can end up in groundwater, creeks, and lakes. Salt can also be harmful to your pets, grass, and landscaping.
Snow and ice are a regular part of winter in Barrie. With a changing climate and growing city, more icy conditions are expected. Help protect our drinking water by reducing salt use in winter:
- Clear snow as soon as possible to prevent ice from forming.
- Salt and de-icers should be used for ice, not snow.
- Remove ice with an ice chopper.
- Use salt wisely. One tablespoon of salt can melt ice on one sidewalk block. Small grain salt works faster and spreads more evenly.
- Salt doesn’t work in cold temperatures below -10°C. Use sand or non-clumping kitty litter instead for traction.
Did you know? The Salt Optimization Strategy strives to optimize the City's current winter maintenance practices to achieve an overall reduction in road salt use, while delivering the expected level of service.
If you use heating oil in your home, make sure that your tank is in good condition and that there are no signs of leaks.
For more information please refer to the Handling Fuels Safely Fact Sheet.
If you have a septic system, ensure it is functioning properly. Poorly maintained, improperly installed or overused septic systems can contaminate groundwater if untreated sewage leaks out of the pipes and tanks.
For more information please refer to the Septic Systems Fact Sheet.
Choose compost over fertilizer. If you do use fertilizers in your lawn or garden:
- Use them sparingly.
- Do not apply more than is needed. Read the label for recommended application rates.
- Avoid applying fertilizer or manure near water sources or before a heavy rainfall event.
Remember, what’s great for your lawn is not always great for our water.Is your car looking a little dirty? Remember driveways are not the best place for washing cars. The soaps and detergents can make their way into the ground or the lake, our sources of drinking water!
Instead, take your car to a car wash. Car washes are required to treat their wastewater before releasing it into the sewer.
If you're still determined to wash your car at home, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to lessen the environmental impact:
- Choose non-toxic, biodegradable soap that is free of phosphates, fragrance, chlorine and petroleum-based ingredients.
- Avoid using acid-based wheel cleaners or hose-off engine degreasers.
- Wash your car on the lawn or over an unpaved surface if possible, so the rinse water can be filtered before reaching a storm drain or waterway.
Fuel up your boat on land or at a marina, where proper spill response materials can be found.
Unused or poorly maintained wells can be transport pathways for contaminants to reach groundwater sources. If you own a well, you are responsible for maintaining it and having it tested regularly. Did you know that Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has a drinking water sampling program for those with private wells to help you know if your drinking water is safe?
If you have an unused well on your property, you are also legally responsible for properly abandoning (plugging and sealing) it. These actions protect you and your neighbours’ drinking water sources.
Homeowners can take these important steps to prevent and manage a hazardous spill.
- Secondary Containment: Store chemicals in a manner that provides secondary containment such as drop trays, spill pallets, or berms.
- Spill Response Material: Keep spill response materials on hand. This could be a commercially available spill response kit, or a simple bucket and scoop with some granular absorbent to soak up spill. Choose what will work best for the conditions at your home.
Information for Business Owners or Operators
Business and industry have an important role and a responsibility to protect the water sources that help keep our economy and community strong. It is important that the City and businesses work together to help ensure a safe and sustainable municipal drinking water source.
If your business is located within a Well Head Protection Area where policies apply, you will be required to complete a Section 59 Screening Form to have your application fully processed. Our Building department will let you know if this is the case when you first apply for your permit. If applicable, the completed form can be uploaded to your building permit online via APLI (select ‘Applicable Law - Source Water Protection’ as the document type).
The Risk Management Official will review your screening form to determine if any Source Protection Plan policies apply to activities at your business. If any policies apply, we will contact you to make sure any source water protection concerns are addressed. Once all policy requirements are met, a Section 59 Notice will be issued to you to allow your building permit application to proceed.
For further information regarding the Clean Water Act – S.59 Screening Form, contact the Risk Management Official at (705) 739-4220 ext. 4796.
Businesses in close proximity to municipal drinking water supplies may be required to work with the City to develop a Risk Management Plan. A Risk Management Plan is a legally binding document that outlines the protective measures that your business needs to take to ensure that drinking water sources are protected. City staff are reaching out to businesses directly to initiate the Risk Management Planning process.
The most common activities in Barrie that will require Risk Management Plans are those related to industrial facilities, winter maintenance activities or automotive sector activities. Industrial activities include those that may involve the handling and storage of hazardous or liquid wastes, fuels, and certain types of industrial chemicals such as solvents. Winter maintenance activities include the storage and application of road salt as well as the storage of snow. Automotive sector activities include the handling and storage of chemicals and chemical waste and spill prevention.
The three samples below show examples of typical Risk Management Plans and the kind of information that may be included:
- Risk Management Plan for industrial activities
- Risk Management Plan for winter maintenance activities
- Risk Management Plan for the automotive sector
Have you seen this logo around Barrie? Businesses displaying this logo have been working with City staff to make sure their operation is as protective of our drinking water as possible. They are working hard to make sure our water is protected.
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Even if you're not in a Vulnerable Area, your business can help protect drinking water sources and the environment. All businesses can take three important steps to prevent and manage a hazardous spill to the environment.
- Spill Response Plan: Develop a plan that includes steps for containment, clean-up, and disposal, as well as contact information for local environmental protection authorities. Please refer to the Spill Response Plan template, which presents a typical plan, and additional information about safety, reporting and staff training.
- You can also consider posting spill response procedures as a way to show your customers you take environmental stewardship seriously, and help you and your staff respond quickly in the unlikely event of a spill.
- Secondary Containment: Store chemicals in a manner that provides secondary containment such as drop trays, spill pallets, or berms.
- Spill Response Material: Keep spill response materials on hand. This could be a commercially available spill response kit, or a simple bucket and scoop with some granular absorbent to soak up spill. Choose what will work best for the conditions at your business.
- Spill Response Plan: Develop a plan that includes steps for containment, clean-up, and disposal, as well as contact information for local environmental protection authorities. Please refer to the Spill Response Plan template, which presents a typical plan, and additional information about safety, reporting and staff training.
Remember when the snow arrives to:
Shovel first
Always shovel before applying salt and avoid using salt excessively.Use sand in cold temperatures
Salt is generally ineffective for melting ice at very cold temperatures; if the temperature is below -10°C, consider using kitty litter or sand for traction instead.Be aware of drainage problems
Be aware of drainage on the property. Improperly placed downspouts or snow piles can cause meltwater to drain across walkways and parking lots and cause icy conditions.Get Smart About Salt
Consider hiring a Smart About Salt™ certified contractor. They have been trained on how to use road salt efficiently while considering impacts to the environment. Or, if you take care of winter maintenance in-house, consider getting trained yourself. Smart About Salt™ offers online and in-person training options for facility managers. You can even get your facility certified as a Smart About Salt™ Certified Site.Keep good records
Keep good records of your winter maintenance activities and policies. This can help reduce liability and keep insurance costs down.Store salt indoors
Prevent road salt from being exposed to the elements; store it indoors or in a lidded container. Road salt exposed to rain, snow or meltwater will dissolve and get into our groundwater supply, streams and Lake Simcoe, and wasted salt means wasted money too!
Information for Developers
Developers have an important role and a responsibility to protect the water sources that help keep our community growing. It is important that the City and developers work together to help ensure a safe and sustainable municipal drinking water source.
All pre-consultation and development applications will be reviewed for Source Water Protection considerations. If any policies from the Source Protection Plan apply you will be notified through the development review process. In some cases a Risk Management Plan will be required for the proposed activities on the property. For information about Risk Management Plans, see above under Information for Business Owners or Operators.
If your development is located within a Well Head Protection Area where policies apply, once you apply for your building permit you will be required to complete a Section 59 screening form to have your application fully processed. Our Building Department will let you know if this is the case when you first apply for your permit.
The Risk Management Official will review your screening form to determine if any Source Protection Plan policies will apply to activities at your development. If any policies apply, we will contact you to make sure any source water protection concerns are addressed. Once all policy requirements are met, a Section 59 Notice will be issued to you to allow your building permit application to proceed.
The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has developed a manual called Parking Lot Design Guidelines to Promote Salt Reduction. The guide offers recommendations on how to reduce salt use on commercial and institutional properties through design features.
Low Impact Development (LID) is a stormwater management strategy that helps to mitigate the impacts of runoff and stormwater pollution by managing runoff as close to its source as possible. LID comprises site design strategies that help to minimize runoff by mimicking the natural hydrology and pre-development conditions to preserve the natural environment. The Infiltration Low Impact Development Screening Process provides a decision making framework to identify where it is appropriate to infiltrate stormwater from paved surfaces within the City of Barrie. This framework takes into consideration the Source Water Protection vulnerable areas as well as the contamination risks associated with road salt application and chemical spills.
The Drinking Water Protection Policy was put in place to reduce pathways of contamination to the City’s groundwater and surface water resources. All private landowners, Members of Council and Officers, and employees of The Corporation of the City of Barrie are required to adhere to the Policy.
Deep drilling activities planned beyond the upper confining layer require approval from the City to ensure pathways of contamination are not created to the municipal supply aquifer. Follow the Deep Drilling Terms of Reference and submit your drilling plan to the Risk Management Official for Review and Approval, as part of your development application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our drinking water comes from two major sources: surface water is taken from Kempenfelt Bay and treated at the Surface Water Treatment Plant and groundwater is taken from 14 wells throughout Barrie.
The north and central parts of Barrie are primarily served by groundwater sources. The south end of Barrie is primarily served by the Surface Water Treatment Plant.
Yes, we currently employ several measures to prevent our water from becoming contaminated to ensure it is safe and clean from the source to our taps.
We currently protect sources of water by monitoring and managing our lakes, rivers and streams, by using up to date water treatment systems, by ensuring that pipes, watermains and storage towers are in good repair, by testing it regularly, and by the ongoing training of water managers and operators.
Source protection safeguards public health by protecting drinking water supplies. Source protection is a preventative approach and is a more cost effective means of protecting drinking water than water treatment alone. Once water sources are contaminated, treatment can become much more expensive or even impossible.
A Source Protection Plan is a collaborative, locally-driven, science-based plan to protect our current and future municipal drinking water supply from threats of contamination or overuse. The Source Protection Plan was developed by a committee that includes public sector, private sector, community, and First Nations representatives. It is important to protect Barrie’s water quality and quantity so that we have clean and safe drinking water for today and tomorrow.
The Clean Water Act requires municipalities to implement Source Protection Plans to protect existing and future municipal drinking-water supplies. The Clean Water Act was enacted in 2006 in response to the Walkerton tragedy to protect Ontario’s existing and future municipal drinking water sources as a part of an overall commitment to safeguard human health and the environment.
- Provincial Ministries, Conservation Authorities, and Municipalities all have different responsibilities for implementing Source Protection Plans.
- Municipalities that have the primary responsibility to implement and enforce policies locally to manage drinking water threats and to implement planning and restricted land use policies.
- The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is responsible for implementing policies related to activities that require provincial approvals.
- Source Protection Committees direct the development of the Source Protection Plans for each region.
- Conservation authorities provide support and technical expertise to municipalities.
- Chemical storage
- Spreading of sewage treatment sludge
- Storage and spreading of road salt
- Animal feedlots
- Use and spilling of fertilizers and pesticides
- Accidental spills and hazardous materials
- Septic systems
- Underground storage tanks
- Underground pipelines or sewers
- Landfills
- Private or abandoned wells
The goal of the Source Protection Plan is to manage or eliminate existing activities that are, or could become, significant threats to drinking water sources. In most circumstances, property owners will be able to manage significant threats to reduce the risk and allow the activity to continue. The Clean Water Act provides several tools to accomplish the goal. In some cases a combination of tools will work best.
Departments are determining the most effective way to implement the program. A framework will be established to guide how the source protection policies will apply. Steps will be taken to provide a streamlined review process for the development community. If you have concerns with the location of a property, we recommend scheduling a meeting with the Risk Management Official to discuss any additional source protection considerations.
A wellhead is simply the physical structure of the well above ground. A wellhead protection area is the area around the wellhead where land use activities have the potential to affect the quality of water that flows into the well. These are areas of high vulnerability where the greatest care must be taken in the storage, use and handling of materials that could, if mishandled or spilled, pollute or contaminate a municipal well.
An intake protection zone is the area around a surface water intake that will ensure the protection of a municipal drinking water system. It is the vulnerable area where contaminants could pose a significant threat to the source water. In most cases, the intake protection zone includes the water and the land that surrounds the intake, and takes into account the impacts of land uses and water activities.