One of the key recommendations of the Walkerton Inquiry, held in response to the drinking water contamination tragedy there in May of 2000, was the need for legislative protections in the form of a Safe Drinking Water Act. 

CELA’s interventions during the Inquiry, on behalf of Concerned Walkerton Citizens, and afterwards, contributed to the passage of this new Ontario law. The SDWA and its implementing regulations are an important component of the multi-barrier approach, and they focus primarily on treatment, distribution, testing, and corrective action in relation to drinking water supplied by different types of drinking water systems in Ontario.

Below are detailed and summary publications, articles and media releases by CELA concerning the advocacy for and ultimate passage of Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act and related regulations and policy.