About Us

Source protection is done on a watershed basis. It is the best way to manage water as it flows across the watershed and crosses forests, farmlands, towns and cities. Along the way it is affected by many different activities - some good and some bad.

The role of the Nickel District Conservation Authority is to coordinate municipal drinking water source protection by establishing and supporting a multi-stakeholder source protection committee that will develop a municipal source water protection plan under the Clean Water Act, 2006. The NDCA will work with the Source Protection Committee  members, municipality of Greater Sudbury, local stakeholders and community members, to provide technical expertise, administrative support and advice for plan development.

For source protection to work, it will need to consider the views of municipalities, property owners, businesses, industry, environmental groups and First Nations. The NDCA also provides outreach and education to help the community understand the importance of protecting our water at the source. Community consultations will occur at all stages throughout the development of the Terms of Reference, the Assessment Report and the Source Protection Plan.

Steps to developing a municipal source water protection plan:

• perform technical studies and assemble data to determine the state of our municipal sources of water;
  
• coordinate the development of the source protection committee and provide technical and administrative support to the committee;
  
• review data, identify and assess the low, moderate and significant threats to our municipal sources of drinking water including Ramsey Lake, the Vermilion River, Wanapitei River and 24 groundwater wells in the Greater Sudbury Area;
  
• assist the source protection committee in developing a source protection plan between 2009-2012 to reduce significant threats;
  
• consult with municipalities and the general public at various stages throughout the development of this proposed plan;
  
• plans are submitted for final approval by the province.
  

Our Planning Area

Greater Sudbury Source Protection Area Map