The science behind Ontario's water quantity management review

Abstract

Water is vital to the health and integrity of our ecosystems and communities. The anticipated impacts of climate change have intensified concerns related to water security in Ontario. Improving our water resource information and assessing our existing water quantity management tools is a key step in ensuring that Ontario will be able to protect and manage water resources now and in the future. The Ministry will provide an overview of work to modernize it's water quantity management framework (policy, program and science) to ensure a robust and adaptive approach to water resources management into the future, and the water quantity scientific work being undertaken to improve our understanding of water resources knowledge on Ontario. Key aspects of the water quantity science work being undertaken will be introduced, including: Immediate: development of a science & technical backgrounder; a review of science/jurisdictional best practices; assessment of Ontario's water (quantity) resources and management approaches in specific geographical areas; water quantity data enhancements and development of an internal data website / platform; water Quantity Protection External Working Group. Longer Term: outfacing water quantity website (data platform and tools); enhance source protection water budgets and models; new and enhanced science tools and approaches; province-wide and/or additional local scale water quantity assessment; enhanced monitoring. BluMetric will provide an overview of the water quantity assessment and management review work being undertaken in specific geographical areas in the province. Water Quantity Study Areas and Water Bottling Study areas being investigated as part of this work (Fig. 1).