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The Sault Ste. Marie Public Utilities Commission (the Commission) is responsible for the supply and delivery of safe drinking water to the residents of Sault Ste. Marie and the Rankin Reserve. Approximately fifty percent of that supply comes from six deep wells owned by the Commission and operated by PUC Services Inc .
Furthermore, all private wells within the City boundaries, Prince Township and Rankin Reserve draw water from the same aquifer that feeds the Commission wells. Any well that penetrates this aquifer is a potential pathway for contamination of the aquifer. Also, any spill of toxic materials within the area that recharges this aquifer (the Recharge Area) can lead to contamination of private and/or municipal wells.
It is therefore vitally important that the Commission take adequate steps to manage and protect this groundwater resource.
In April of 2001 the Commission assumed the lead role in bringing together various stakeholders in the Sault Ste. Marie area to establish and implement a Groundwater Management and Protection Plan. Area participants included the City of Sault Ste. Marie , Prince Township , the Algoma Health Unit, the Ministry of Environment, the Algoma Regional Conservation Authority and the Batchewana Band of First Nations . The total project cost was estimated at approximately $390,000.00.
In August, 2001, the Ministry of Environment announced its funding initiative to promote municipal groundwater studies aimed at protecting groundwater resources across the province. On November 14 th t he Ministry announced approval for up to 85 % of the Sault Ste Marie project costs .
In March, 2002, R. J. Burnside and Associates Limited, Orangeville Ontario , was retained to implement the study . The key objectives were to :
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gather all data related to water resources availability and usage and develop a comprehensive database management system
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complete a groundwater resource assessment
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undertake a water-use/water budget assessment
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prepare detailed hydrogeological maps
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complete potential contaminant sources inventory
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determine groundwater vulnerability
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review land use planning in the light of the groundwater resources availability and the potential for groundwater contamination
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develop groundwater management strategies.
During the summer of 2002, R. J. Burnside & Associates conducted a door-to-door water well / septic system survey and contaminant sources inventory.
An initial Public Open House was held on September 25 to provide background information for the project and present groundwater mapping and other relevant information related to the groundwater study. Comments received were incorporated into the study and assessments as appropriate. A second Open House was held on February 19, 2003 in order to present the findings to-date and proposals for the resource management plan.
The final report was presented to all stakeholders on July 14, 2003 in Sault Ste. Marie.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Dominic Parrella , P.Eng.,
VP Operations & Engineering
PUC Services Inc.
510 Second Line E., Sault Ste. Marie
Ontario, P6A 6P2
Tel: (705) 759 6552
Dr. Bindu Uppaluri, Ph.D.,
Manager/Senior Hydrogeologist
R. J. Burnside & Associates Limited
292 Speedvale Ave W., Unit 7; Guelph
Ontario , N1H 1C4
Tel: ( 519 ) 823 4995
Please see PDF downloads below
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