Latest News and Events

LPP Volunteers Needed

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a LPP volunteer to help with water quality sampling and testing, please contact any Board member. This involves a commitment from May to October and requires an application form to be filled in along with some training.

Ontario Auditor General Special Report on the Safety of Non-Municipal Drinking Water

On March 31, 2025 the Ontario Auditor General released a special report on the safety of non-municipal drinking water. Nearly 3 million Ontarians rely on wells and surface water (e.g. lake water). This report plunges into significant detail about water quality standards and testing, oversight of water systems and testing, supports for individuals, protecting your water supply, and health risks.

The conclusion of the report states:

“Reported test results provide a high level of assurance of the safety of Ontario’s tested drinking water. Over 98% of all samples taken from non-municipal drinking water systems over the past decade have met the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards.

This assurance, however, does not extend to all non-municipal drinking water because not all water is tested. Private wells and intakes, which are not considered to be drinking-water systems, have no testing requirements and are not included in the test results noted above. Drinking- water systems, which do have testing requirements, are generally not required to test for all contaminants. In addition, not all system owners test their water as required.” (Emphasis added)

The report is lengthy at 71 pages but provides valuable information for those that want a better understanding of the state of non-municipal drinking water in Ontario. Click to read the full report.

Contamination of the Birch Island Railway Corridor

Whitefish River First Nation (WRFN) has posted community notices on their website and notice boards recommending people not to use the old CP rail beds due to contaminants. These contaminants include petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and metals. WRFN is pursuing legal action to have the contamination addressed and returned to a safe and clean state.

This may be of interest to BICA members as this rail bed is in our immediate watershed area and contaminants on land could affect our local water quality. As more information becomes available, updates will be posted to our website.

New 5-Year LPP Agreement

FOCA has partnered since 1996 in the Lake Partner Program. The 5-year funding agreement with MECP expired March 31, 2025 and a new 5-year agreement with the Ontario Government has been signed recently. This long-standing vitally important program continues to serve all Ontarians and helps ensure the health of our lake waters.