To: Watershed News Media
Date: October 4, 2007
Kingston - Five years of study and collaboration by four municipalities, the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) and the Ministry of the Environment will be presented to the respective municipal councils this month.
The Western Cataraqui Region Groundwater Study includes the City of Kingston, Loyalist Township, Greater Napanee and South Frontenac Township.
"The study identifies the setting, quality and availability of groundwater and its vulnerability to contamination," explains CRCA Watershed Management Coordinator Mara Shaw. "It also contains recommendations to ensure the safety of the region's groundwater supply."
The public may attend presentations at the municipal offices on:
The study's reports are available at the four municipal offices and the CRCA administration office. To view a summary of the study click here.
The study was launched in 2002. Its findings confirm that the shallow soils and fractured limestone bedrock found in much of the region makes the groundwater susceptible to contamination. As part of the study, the water chemistry and bacteria content in a number of wells were analyzed. A significant portion of the wells did not meet current Provincial drinking water standards.
The study identifies measures that can be taken to manage the region's groundwater with an emphasis on non-regulatory approaches.
For more information call:
Mara Shaw, Watershed Management Coordinator (613) 546-4228 ext. 228