6. OTTAWA RURAL CLEAN WATER PROGRAM

Programme d’assainissement de l’eau en milieu rural d’Ottawa

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommendation as amended

That Council:

1. Receive the evaluation of the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program (ORCWP) dated September, 2009 as detailed in Document 1;

2. Direct staff to work with the Conservation Authorities, the ORCWP Program Committee, rural residents and other stakeholders to modify the program as recommended in the evaluation and report to Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Planning and Environment Committee and City Council in Q3 2010.

3. That any modified well and septic program include equitable treatment of all residential properties on private well and septic systems in Ottawa.

Planning and environment Committee recommendation as amended

That Council:

1. Receive the evaluation of the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program (ORCWP) dated September, 2009 as detailed in Document 1;

Recommandation DU ComitÉ de l’agriculture et des questions rurales Recommandations modifÉs DU Comité

Que le Conseil :

1. reçu l’évaluation du Programme d’assainissement de l’eau en milieu rural d’Ottawa (PAEMRO) datée de septembre 2009 (document 1 ci-joint);

2. charge le personnel de travailler avec les offices de protection de la nature, le Comité du PAEMRO, les résidents des secteurs ruraux et les autres intervenants afin de modifier le programme comme le recommande l’évaluation, et de rendre compte au Comité au cours de troisième trimestre de 2010.

3. que tout programme modifié concernant les puits et les fosses septiques inclue un traitement équitable de toutes les propriétés résidentielles ayant un puits ou une fosse septique privé à Ottawa.

Recommandation MODIFIÉE DU Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement

Que le Conseil :

1. reçu l’évaluation du Programme d’assainissement de l’eau en milieu rural d’Ottawa (PAEMRO) datée de septembre 2009 (document 1 ci-joint);

Documentation

1. Deputy City Manager's report, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability, dated 14 October 2009 (ACS2008-ICS-PGM-0193).

2. Extract of Draft Minutes, 27 October 2009.

3. Extract of Draft Minutes, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, 22 October 2009.

Report to/Rapport au :

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee

Comité de l'agriculture et des questions rurales

and / et

Planning and Environment Committee

Comite de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement

and Council /et au Council

14 October 2009 / le 14 octobre 2009

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager/Directrice municipale adjointe,

Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability/Services d’infrastructure et Viabilité des collectivités

Contact Person/Personne-ressource : Richard Kilstrom, Manager/Gestionnaire, Policy Development and Urban Design/Élaboration de la politique et conception urbaine, Planning and Growth Management/Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance Élaboration de la politique et conception urbaine

(613) 580-2424 x22653, Richard.Kilstrom@ottawa.ca

City Wide/à l'échelle de la Ville

Ref N°: ACS2009-ICS-PGM-0193

SUBJECT:	OTTAWA RURAL CLEAN WATER PROGRAM

OBJET :	Programme d’assainissement de l’eau en milieu rural d’Ottawa

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That Planning and Environment Committee and Agriculture and Rural Affairs recommend that Council:

1. Receive the evaluation of the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program (ORCWP) dated September, 2009 as detailed in Document 1;

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement et le Comité de l’agriculture et des affaires rurales recommandent au Conseil :

1. de recevoir l’évaluation du Programme d’assainissement de l’eau en milieu rural d’Ottawa (PAEMRO) datée de septembre 2009 (document 1 ci-joint);

2. de charger le personnel de travailler avec les offices de protection de la nature, le Comité du PAEMRO, les résidents des secteurs ruraux et les autres intervenants afin de modifier le programme comme le recommande l’évaluation, et de rendre compte au Comité au cours de troisième trimestre de 2010.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Assumptions and Analysis:

The Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program (ORCWP) gives grants to rural residents to undertake projects that improve the quality of surface water and ground water. Grants are provided for land stewardship and agriculture best management practices and septic replacement and well upgrades, replacement and decommissioning. The program also has a public education component. Agriculture organizations and provincial agencies are on committees that provide program advice and approve applications for funding.

The program is funded through an $184,000 levy to the Conservation Authorities, which administer the program. The current five-year funding agreement finishes in 2009. This report describes an evaluation of the program and recommends directions for renewing the program through 2010. The effectiveness of the program can be increased through the following measures:

§ Focus on priority projects that result in direct improvement to water quality, including livestock restrictions, fragile land retirement, and precision farming, as well as well decommissioning.

§ Increase grants levels and change the grant structure, to provide a greater incentive to rural residents to participate in ORCWP and senior government grant programs.

§ Develop education and outreach tools to recruit new participants to the program, including small farm operators, non-farm property owners, and other rural residents with large holdings.

§ Streamline and simplify program access and materials, so that it is more clear what the program does and who is eligible to participate.

§ Consider developing a one-window approach to the ORCWP and the Canada- Ontario Farm Stewardship Program in cooperation with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. This would streamline access for farm operators who have completed an Environmental Farm Plan and are pursuing the senior government grant.

The report also proposes that Council consider a new program to provide education and incentives to private owners to install and maintain their well and septic systems properly. Components of the program could include a voluntary septic re-inspection program, a well installation inspection program, incentive grants for tertiary treatment septic systems, and incentives for septic maintenance. Staff will consult with the Conservation Authorities and other stakeholders on this program and will report in 2010. This new program, operated separately from the ORCWP, would replace the current funding for well and septic projects now available within ORCWP.

Legal/Risk Management Implications:

There are no legal/risk management implications to this report.

Council will further consider the matter of the $250,000 allocation for the Conservation Authorities in the consideration of the 2010 budget.

Financial Implications:

Staff will request the Conservation Authorities for a one-time increase in the levy to $250,000 for 2010 to allow for transition to the renewed ORCWP. The ORCWP has been supported by a levy of $184,000 for the 2005–2009 period. The report also proposes that Council consider a new education and incentive program for owners of private well and septic systems that, if approved, would create ongoing budget pressures on the Conservation Authority levy. This will be included in the report back to Planning and Environment and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees as directed by Recommendation 2.

Public Consultation/Input:

Rural Issues Advisory Committee, the Conservation Authorities, and the Program Committee for the ORCWP were consulted during this process.

RÉSUMÉ

Hypothèses et analyse :

Le Programme d’assainissement de l’eau en milieu rural d’Ottawa (PAEMRO) accorde des subventions aux résidents des secteurs ruraux pour leur permettre d’entreprendre des projets visant à améliorer la qualité de l’eau de surface et de l’eau souterraine. Les subventions sont consenties pour l’intendance des terres, les pratiques de gestion exemplaires en agriculture, le remplacement de systèmes septiques ainsi que l’amélioration, le remplacement et la désaffectation de puits. Le programme comporte également un volet de sensibilisation du public. Les organismes provinciaux ou ceux qui oeuvrent dans le secteur agricole font partie de comités qui donnent des conseils au sujet des programmes et approuvent les demandes de financement.

Le financement du programme est assuré par un montant de 184 000 $ versé aux offices de protection de la nature qui administrent le programme. L’accord de financement quinquennal en vigueur prend fin en 2009. Ce rapport contient une évaluation du programme et émet des directives pour le renouveler pendant l’année 2010. Les mesures suivantes peuvent améliorer l’efficacité du programme :

§ Se concentrer sur des projets prioritaires qui entraîneront des améliorations directes de la qualité de l’eau, comme la restriction de l’accès du bétail aux cours d’eau, l’abandon des terres agricoles fragiles, la pratique de l’agriculture de précision et la désaffectation des puits.

§ Augmenter le montant des subventions et modifier la structure des subventions afin d’inciter davantage les résidents des secteurs ruraux à participer au PAEMRO et aux programmes de subventions des ordres supérieurs de gouvernement.

§ Élaborer des outils d’éducation et de sensibilisation afin de recruter de nouveaux participants pour le programme, notamment les petits agriculteurs, les propriétaires de biens non agricoles et les autres résidents des secteurs ruraux qui possèdent de grandes propriétés.

§ Rationaliser et simplifier le matériel ainsi que l’accès au programme afin de mieux faire comprendre en quoi consiste le programme et quels sont les critères d’admission.

§ Envisager l’élaboration d’une approche unique pour le PAEMRO et le Programme de gérance agroenvironnementale Canada-Ontario en collaboration avec l’Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. Cette approche faciliterait l’accès pour les exploitants agricoles qui ont élaboré un Plan agroenvironnemental et cherchent à obtenir une subvention des ordres supérieurs de gouvernement.

Le rapport propose également que le Conseil envisage un nouveau programme de sensibilisation et de mesures incitatives à l’intention des propriétaires privés pour qu’ils installent et entretiennent adéquatement leurs puits et leurs systèmes septiques. Un programme de réinspection volontaire des systèmes septiques, un autre d’inspection de l’installation des puits, des subventions incitatives pour les systèmes septiques avec traitement tertiaire et des mesures incitatives pour l’entretien des systèmes septiques pourraient être mis en place. Le personnel doit consulter les offices de protection de la nature et les autres intervenants à propos de ce programme et devra présenter un rapport en 2010. Ce nouveau programme, distinct du PAEMRO, remplacerait le financement actuel pour les projets relatifs aux puits et aux systèmes septiques du PAEMRO.

Incidences juridiques/concernant la gestion des risques :

Ce rapport n’a aucune incidence d’ordre juridique ou concernant la gestion des risques.

Le Conseil examinera plus à fond la question des 250 000 $ pour les offices de protection de la nature dans son étude du budget de 2010.

Répercussions financières :

Le personnel demandera aux offices de protection de la nature une augmentation ponctuelle du soutien financier pour le porter à 250 000 $ en 2010, afin d’assurer une transition jusqu’au renouvellement du PAEMRO. Le PAEMRO a reçu un soutien financier de 184 000 $ au cours de la période 2005-2009. Le rapport propose aussi que le Conseil envisage la création d’un programme de sensibilisation et de mesures incitatives à l’intention des propriétaires de puits et de systèmes septiques privés qui, si approuvé, exercerait des pressions budgétaires continues sur le prélèvement des offices de protection de la nature.

Consultation publique/commentaires :

Le Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales, les offices de protection de la nature et le Comité du PAEMRO ont été consultés pendant ce processus.

BACKGROUND

The Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program (ORCWP) began in 2000 to provide grants to rural property owners to undertake projects that improve surface water quality. Projects that improve groundwater quality were later added to the program. The program currently funds best management practices and projects for agricultural land and other rural properties, plus upgrades and replacements of private well and septic systems. Most grants are in the range of $1000 to $5000 and cover up to 50 per cent of the project’s cost, although some projects are eligible for 75 per cent funding, as shown in Document 2.

In 2006 questions were raised regarding the desirability of extending the ORCWP to the urban area so that residents on privately-serviced properties would be eligible for the well and septic grants. In June 2007, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approved a report from the Rural Issues Advisory Committee directing staff to consider treating privately-serviced communities in the urban and rural areas the same with respect to clean water programs, initiatives under the Clean Water Act, and other groundwater policies. This report is here: http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/ara/2007/06-14/ACS2007-CCV-RIA-0004%20revised.htm

In an information report to Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and City Council in November 2007, staff addressed the issue of the proposed expansion of the program to the Urban Area, noting that although it responded to a sense of equality between rural and urban treatment, expansion could be a disincentive to connection in the long term to public services, where the City has invested in capacity to serve those areas.

Although the program has evolved over the years, it has always operated in partnership with rural organizations, government agencies and the Conservation Authorities. Since 2005 it has been administered by the Conservation Authorities and funded through an annual levy of $184,000 approved for a five-year period ending in 2009. About one-third of the budget is spent on program administration, including on-site visits to applicants to advise them about their project. This report presents the results of a program evaluation completed in 2009 as the basis for renewed program directions and a budget for 2011 and beyond.

DISCUSSION

An evaluation of the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program (ORCWP) started in 2008 in consultation with an advisory committee of program staff from the Conservation Authorities and rural members of the ORCWP Program Committee. The evaluation focused on three questions:

Which projects have the greatest benefit with respect to improving and protecting surface and groundwater quality?
Can the program be designed to increase uptake of the projects that have the most benefits for surface and groundwater quality?
How will other stewardship programs affect the ORCWP?

Responses to these questions were taken from interviews with 34 persons knowledgeable about agriculture, water protection, federal and provincial programs and the rural community, plus research on other rural clean water programs in Ontario and the literature on practices to improve water quality.

The main findings and recommendations of the evaluation are summarized below.

Project Benefits

Generally, projects that lead to direct improvements in water quality provide the greatest benefits, compared with projects that mitigate a risk in the future. Projects that yield direct improvements include erosion control measures, grassed waterways, livestock restrictions, fragile land retirement, buffer strips, and precision farming. With the exception of precision farming, these projects provide considerable public benefits rather than primarily private property benefits.

In addition to these projects, the evaluation found that well decommissioning is also a valued project within the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program as it eliminates a potential contaminant pathway to the groundwater.

Many of the projects described above are also agriculture best management projects. The ORCWP has succeeded in supporting a steady number of well decommissioning and farm-related projects since 2000 and has benefited from the guidance and support of farm organizations on its Steering Committee and Application Review Committees. The evaluation underscores the importance of agricultural best management practices and projects in improving rural water quality, since farmland occupies half of the area of the city.

When asked what new projects, if any, the ORCWP should support, many key informants interviewed for the evaluation strongly supported a greater emphasis on public education and delivery of workshops, such as the drain education day sponsored in 2008 by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. They said these activities could also serve to increase participation in ORCWP if they promote stewardship projects eligible for funding and reach out to a broader cross-section of rural residents.

Increasing Project Uptake

Money is the greatest incentive and the greatest barrier to increasing participation in the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program. Money is the main barrier to participating in the ORCWP, since the grant pays for up to half of the project’s cost in most cases and the applicant needs to pay the balance. Money is also the primary incentive for participants to take on projects, followed by personal gains in such terms as added property value, reduced farm operating costs, compliance with provincial regulations, reduced risk of environmental or property damage, and health benefits. The evaluation recommends that the maximum grant and the percentage of project costs eligible for coverage be increased to reflect current costs of the projects and provide a greater incentive to participation.

Improving and streamlining access to the program and engaging a larger cross-section of the rural community could also increase participation. Access to the program can be improved by more clear communication about the program—what it funds and who is eligible—and by removing some of the application requirements. For example, the evaluation recommends removing wherever possible the blanket requirement that applicants complete either a Healthy Home Guide or an Environmental Farm Plan 3^rd Edition through the two-day EFP workshop. The Healthy Home Guide however, will continue to be an important education tool in the rural area. The evaluation also recommends removing the requirement for an on-site visit to all applicants in favour of focusing this valuable service on applicants who need help developing their projects--and to provide the necessary over-sight of these projects.

Access to the program is proposed to be streamlined by creating different processes for farm operators who are applying for senior government grants for farm stewardship, and for the other farm operators and rural property owners. The evaluation recommends that Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program explore delivery through a one-window with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) for the farm community that has (or is preparing) an Environmental Farm Plan and intends to apply to the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program (COFSP). COFSP funds a large number of best management practices and projects, including those funded by the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program, but provides larger grants of up to $30,000 in some cases. Throughout Ontario, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association now administers the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program and several other farm stewardship programs for the provincial government, foundations, and municipalities. Applicants to COFSP are required to have completed an Environmental Farm Plan and have a farm business registration number.

Staff of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program now make sure that applicants are aware of other grant programs, but applicants are required to apply separately to the two programs. Different levels of integration could be explored, including options where the application and approval process for the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program is sufficient to access the ORCWP. This would eliminate the need for a site visit from the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program staff, and help address the issue of distrust of government that is a barrier to the program in many parts of the city. From the farm operator’s perspective, this arrangement would provide one-window access through an agriculture organization. From the program’s perspective, the cost of administering this component could be reduced.

The evaluation also recommends that the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program grant structure be revised so that more Ottawa farmers can potentially access the program. At present, the limit on the ORCWP grant to 50 per cent of the project cost means that farm operators who receive 50 per cent of the project cost from the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program or another program do not apply for or receive ORCWP funds. If the ORCWP structured the grant as a top-up for specific projects that are also eligible for COFSP, it could potentially increase participation in both programs by increasing the combined grant, making the project more affordable to farm operators.

Uptake on well decommissioning, fragile land retirement, and other projects could potentially be increased if a wider range of rural residents participated in the ORCWP. Outreach could be targeted to owners of rural non-farm properties, small farm operators, rural residents who keep horses on their property, and others who are not eligible for farm stewardship programs or who choose not to pursue these grants. Public education and on-site advice from program staff could all be targeted to potential participants who are outside the senior government programs and who are not now participating in ORCWP. These measures in combination with reduced application requirements, more clear communication, and increased grant levels can boost participation.

Well and septic projects

The evaluation recommends reconsideration of the City’s role in funding well and septic upgrades and replacement through the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program. As it is currently funded, this component is not serving Ottawa residents well even though it is taking an increasing share of program resources:

Well upgrades and well and septic replacements have increased steadily since 2004. These projects accounted for 80 per cent of the projects approved in the last three years (2007–2009) and took two-thirds or more of the budget.

Increasingly, waiting lists are formed from one year to the next as the program budget is depleted. This means that residents are potentially delaying needed repairs.

Most Ottawa residents are paying for their private services themselves. An average of 220 permits for septic replacements was issued annually over the last 10 years, but fewer than 50 grants for these projects are awarded each year. Not all residents on private services are aware of the grant or are eligible for it.

It is unclear whether the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program is funding replacement of failed septic systems, or whether it is funding replacement of old systems so as to improve the value and saleability of private properties. A septic inspection report is not required to receive the grant, and there is no subsequent inspection of the new system.

The evaluation found that the City’s role in funding private well and septic systems through a clean water program should be reconsidered. Furthermore, these projects provide relatively fewer environmental benefits to the public, compared with other projects. Where a septic system failure has occurred, the benefit of the septic replacement is typically limited to water quality improvement on a single lot or adjacent lots. Cost is a potential issue. With approximately 30000 private well and septic systems in rural Ottawa, a fully funded and accessible well and septic replacement program would create a considerable budget pressure for the City.

As an alternative, Council could consider a program that provides education and incentives to private owners to install and maintain their well and septic systems properly. Components of such a program could include, for example:

A rebate program whereby a grant is provided to property owners providing proof of regular septic pump-outs over a four-year period;
Voluntary septic re-inspection program to ensure that septic systems are operating properly;
Incentive grants for tertiary treatment septic systems, which treat more nitrogen than conventional systems and could improve groundwater quality in areas of sand or other highly permeable soils;
On-site inspection when wells are drilled, to ensure proper construction.

Each of these could be combined with advice and educational materials for property owners.

Staff will develop such a program in consultation with the Conservation Authorities and other stakeholders and will report to Council in 2010. The program will also consider the eligibility of urban residents, who in the past have asked that the well and septic replacement components of the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program be extended to the urban area.

An education and incentive program is consistent with Council’s policies on private services and groundwater resources. Council’s policy in the Official Plan is that construction and maintenance of privately-owned services are the responsibility of the owner. Responsibility for the groundwater resources that support private servicing in Ontario is led by the Province and shared by the Conservation Authorities and the City. The City is responsible for regulating land use that potentially impacts on groundwater; operating public communal wells such as the wells in Richmond and Carp; and delivering public health programs and educational materials to property owners in such areas as well testing and septic maintenance.

The Infrastructure Master Plan approved by Council in 2009 opens the door to a larger role for the City in private servicing. The Plan proposes that Council consider implementation of a voluntary septic re-inspection program and application to the Province for delegation of authority governing construction of wells and the use of groundwater.

Summary and Conclusions

The ongoing advice of rural organizations and government agencies has strengthened the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program since its inception. With representatives from Environmental Farm Plan, Ottawa-Carleton Soil and Crop Improvement Association, the Ottawa Stewardship Council, Federation of Agriculture, and Provincial Ministries, the ORCWP Program Committee has helped keep the program grounded in the rural community and responsive to rural interests. The Committee’s advice on renewed program directions in 2010 and the years ahead will be invaluable. As senior government agriculture and stewardship initiatives change and as the City takes on new responsibilities for the Clean Water Act, the ORCWP can be adjusted to implement locally-determined priorities and projects.

The Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program has benefited from the partnership between the City and the Conservation Authorities in administering the program. The Conservation Authorities bring to the table their experience administering clean water programs throughout the watersheds and economies in administering the Ottawa program in conjunction with their own. The South Nation Conservation Authority has administered the budget and issued cheques to program participants, and reported on the program’s operation to the City and program stakeholders. The Conservation Authorities are knowledgeable about water quality issues throughout the watershed and the stewardship programs offered by the Conservation Authorities and other parties. They are well-positioned to increase participation in the ORCWP through outreach and education.

Through 2010, the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program will be renewed in consultation with the Conservation Authorities, the ORCWP Program Committee, the rural community, and other stakeholders. It is proposed that the new program will:

Focus on priority projects that result in direct improvement to water quality, including livestock restrictions, fragile land retirement, and precision farming, as well as well decommissioning.

Increase grants and change the grant structure, to provide a greater incentive to rural residents to participate in ORCWP.

Develop education and outreach tools to recruit new participants to the program, including small farm operators, non-farm property owners, and other rural residents with large holdings.

Streamline and simplify program access and materials, so that it is more clear what the program does and who is eligible to participate

Consider developing a one-window approach to the ORCWP and the Canada- Ontario Farm Stewardship Program in cooperation with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. This would streamline access for farm operators who have completed an Environmental Farm Plan and are pursuing the senior government grant.

Grants for well and septic replacement and well upgrades will be removed from the ORCWP after 2010 and a new well and septic education and incentive program will be proposed in their place. A report on both programs will be prepared for Council in 2010, in time for consideration in the 2011 budget.

2010 Funding

It will be difficult to fund projects from applicants on the current waiting list as well as fund new applications in 2010 within a budget of $184,000, the amount provided in previous years. Staff will propose to the Conservation Authorities a one-time increase in the annual budget to $250,000 for inclusion in the Conservation Authority levy for 2010, to allow for funding of eligible projects from the waiting list and new intake in 2010. A spring deadline will be set for 2010 applications and applicants will be advised to re-apply in 2011 when the program funds are fully allocated.

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

The Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program began as a program to support rural property owners as stewards of their land. It opened the door to municipal government funding specifically to the rural area, recognizing that water quality in the urban area benefited from millions of dollars in spending on stormwater management and other initiatives. The ORCWP has continued to help farmers and rural property owners undertake projects and best management practices to improve surface and groundwater quality, that ultimately benefit the public as well as the property owner.

CONSULTATION

The evaluation was completed with input from representatives of rural and government organizations knowledgeable about the program, including members of the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program Committee. The Rural Issues Advisory Committee was consulted on three occasions and has asked for a final briefing at its October meeting, so that its comments can be delivered to Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee when it considers this report.

The recommendations of this report were developed in consultation with the three Conservation Authorities in Ottawa.

The Program Committee for the ORCWP, comprised of rural organizations, the Conservation Authorities, and government and university representatives, expressed a range of views. Several members believed well and septic projects provided widespread benefits and allowed program staff to have one-to-one contact with rural residents to provide education on stewardship. Other members supported the removal of septic projects from the ORCWP and inclusion of well decommissioning.

Several said they valued the site visit to applicants, as a means to stay in touch with rural residents and educate them. They also provide good over-sight of proposed projects, which could be an issue if the requirement for site visits is reduced.

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are no legal/risk management implications to this report.

Council will further consider the matter of the $250,000 allocation for the Conservation Authorities in the consideration of the 2010 budget.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The City committed in 2005 to funding the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program for five years (2005-2009) at a rate of $184,000 per year under a special levy to the Conservation Authorities. Staff will request that the Conservation Authorities institute a one-time increase in the levy in 2010, to $250,000, to fund projects on a waiting list and new applications in 2010.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 Evaluation of the Rural Clean Water Program (previously distributed and held on file with the City Clerk)

Document 2 – Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program – Projects Eligible for Funding in 2009

DISPOSITION

Planning and Growth Management Department will request that the Conservation Authorities institute a one-time increase in their special levy to $250,000 for 2010.

Staff will also report back on the proposed education and incentive program for well and septic systems, and a renewed ORCWP program and funding requirements in 2010.

OTTAWA RURAL CLEAN WATER PROGRAM - PROJECTS

ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING IN 2009 DOCUMENT 2


Projects	grant rate	max. grant	performance incentive
Sewage system	50 %	$2,000
Fuel storage and handling facility	50 %	$1,000
Chemical storage and handling facility	50 %	$2,000
Private well replacement	50 %	$2,000
Private well upgrading	50 %	$500
Private well decommissioning	75 %	$1,000/well
Erosion Control Structures · streambank stabilization · water and sediment control basin · drop inlets	50 %	$3,000
Livestock access restrictions to watercourse	75 %	$5,000
Grassed waterways	50 %	$5,000	$150/acre/yr
Fragile land retirement · buffer strips · erosion-prone land · field windbreaks	75 %	$6,000	$150/acre/yr
Precision Farming	50 %	$1,000
Nutrient management plan /turf management plan	50 %	$1,000
Wastewater/manure storage	50 %	$15,000
Clean water diversion	50 %	$5,000
Leachate seepage control	50 %	$5,000
Milkhouse/milking parlour washwater treatment and disposal	50 %	$5,000
Educational Initiatives	75 %	$5,000

Council receives an annual report on the ORCWP activities. The most recent report is here:

http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/ara/2008/11-27/04-ACS2008-ICS-ECO-0025-FINAL-Rural%20Clean%20Water%20Program.htm

OTTAWA RURAL CLEAN WATER PROGRAM

PROGRAMME D’ASSAINISSEMENT DE L’EAU EN MILIEU RURAL D’OTTAWA

ACS2009-ICS-PGM-0193 WEST CARLETON-MARCH (5), CUMBERLAND (19)

OSGOODE (20), RIDEAU-GOULBOURN (21)

At the outset, Mr. Richard Kilstrom, Manager, Policy Development and Urban Design, Planning and Growth Management (PGM), Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability (ISCS) introduced Ms. Lise Guevremont, Planner, PGM, ISCS and Ms. Judy Flavin, Planner, Community Sustainability, ISCS, to speak to this matter. Ms. Flavin spoke to a PowerPoint slide presentation (held on file with the Office of the City Clerk) which served to provide the Committee with an overview of the staff report.

Ms. Flavin’s overview touched on:

Ø The evaluation of the ORCWP, which provides a good basis for renewing the funding agreement with the Conservation Authorities to deliver the program;

Ø Types of projects that yield the greatest benefits for water quality and suggestions on how to fund more of same;

Ø A proposal for a new program to ensure proper well and septic system installation and maintenance;

Ø 2010 is the final year of the program as is, while new directions are being prepared;

Ø Staff will report in Q3 2010 with a funding proposal for 2011 and revisions to the ORCWP in key directions:

ü Focusing on priority projects

ü Increasing grants and changing program structures

ü Developing tools to recruit new participants

ü Streamlining and simplifying program access and materials

ü Considering a ‘one-window’ access to senior government farm programs

Ø Reporting back in the Fall of 2010 with consultation results, program evaluations and suggested program modifications.

Ms. Flavin noted she and Ms. Guevremont had attended a meeting of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee (RIAC) two days earlier, where the following motion regarding the ORCWP had been passed:

WHEREAS, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the Planning and Environment Committee have directed staff to include the urban residents presently using their own septic and well service; and,

WHEREAS, health and safety issues should be considered a priority for improved water quality,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Issues Advisory Committee urge the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee to request staff to reconsider and include those urban residents on private service in the Rural Clean Water Program to assure equality between rural and urban residents without detriment to the rural residents in the funding of the program as previously directed by ARAC.

Ms. Flavin explained the motion’s intent was to remind staff that when developing projects for privately serviced well and septic systems, urban residents need to be treated equally to rural residents on private services. She affirmed that staff will be mindful of this when developing the new and revised programs in the report coming back to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Planning and Environment Committees in the third quarter (Q3) of 2010.

Chair Thompson acknowledged the amount of work that had gone into this review. He said his membership on the South Nation Conservation Authority allowed him to comment on the contributions of its Clean Water Committee, taking the position that these bodies likely offer the best avenue for such programs to continue.

Councillor El-Chantiry asked about the possibility of entering into discussions with septic system haulers and well drillers with a view towards licensing such operators, if using City facilities, to ensure adherence to, and compliance with, established construction and maintenance standards. Ms. Flavin noted similar discussions had taken place at the recent RIAC meeting, and that staff will examine this further.

Councillor El-Chantiry felt that program funding, at $184,000 a year, was inadequate given the demand, which was already producing a two-year wait. In addition, he felt that qualification and approval criteria for grants needed to be strengthened to ensure that those whose needs were greatest could qualify more easily, as currently, anyone could apply, regardless of need or ability to pay. Ms. Flavin acknowledged the challenges involved, and offered to examine this further, but she pointed out that screening methods could create new barriers to access, which would have the consequence of increasing administrative overhead and adding complications to a system meant to offer ease of use. Councillor El-Chantiry acknowledged the need for balance between rural and urban taxpayers to ensure that no one group would benefit at the expense of another.

Mr. Bruce Webster, Rural Issues Advisory Committee, acknowledged the importance of access to clean water in the rural area. He reinforced RIAC’s view of the need to ensure the program was equitably available to all people who are not on central services. While agreeing with the need to ensure that wells are properly installed, he cautioned that expansion of the program to include the need for well drillers, engineers in their own right, to have their work monitored or supervised by another level of City-employed engineers, would be redundant.

Councillor El-Chantiry referenced earlier discussions with staff regarding the need to educate people about private wells within the City. He noted examples where licensed plumbers, or residents with familiarity on how far away to install sand point wells from septic systems, could handle such installations themselves, whereas dug wells would require oversight by an engineer, and approval on the part of the respective Conservation Authority. He felt the program was taking care of this adequately. Ms. Flavin said the proposal for a new well and septic program could include incentive grants for these wells.

Mr. Don Patterson, Chair, Ottawa Rural Clean Water Committee (ORCWC), noted he was also an Osgoode beef farmer and member of the South Nation and Rideau Valley Clean Water Committees. As a member of the latter two organizations, he said he had helped to review and approve applications funded by this program, which included the decommissioning of old wells, construction of buffers, erosion control systems, improvements to manure storage, and well and septic upgrades. He said the ORCWC, made up of local agricultural organizations, has supported the ORCWP for the past decade, will continue to do so, and looks forward to improving it for Ottawa landowners. Mr. Patterson felt the program has seen success, with 419 projects receiving over $529,000 in grants in the past four years, representing an overall investment in the local economy in excess of $3.5 million. He noted the program is very much required, as evidenced by waiting lists of between 100 and 150 projects over the past three years, and that there is a need for not only continued, but increased funding, to help manage both backlogged and future projects. In closing, Mr. Patterson asked that Conservation Authorities continue to oversee the administration of the ORCWP program.

Following clarification from staff regarding the suggestion of separating the well and septic system component into a new, separate program, Councillor Hunter moved an addition to the recommendations:

That any modified well and septic program include equitable treatment of all residential properties on private well and septic systems in Ottawa.

The Councillor explained his motion was in line with RIAC’s recommendations. In response to questions from Committee members, he clarified that although historically, only rural properties had been recommended for eligibility, demand for surface water quality projects, along with residential well and septic upgrades and the proliferation of estate lot subdivisions beyond the urban boundary had changed the purely rural nature of this issue, speaking to the equitable or equal treatment for all properties and expansion of the program from surface water quality alone to include the proper management of groundwater quality.

In response to questions from Councillor Jellett regarding the proposed one-time increase in program funding to $250,000 (from $184,000) for 2010 to wind up the current program, Ms. Flavin explained that Committee would have to consider such funding when Conservation Authorities present their levy requests for 2010. Further responding to a query from Councillor El-Chantiry as to whether staff were considering including sand point wells in their review, Ms. Flavin noted staff were reviewing incentive grants for tertiary treatment septic systems, which could include such systems.

Chair Thompson thanked all who had been involved in the ORCWP for their efforts.

Committee then considered Councillor Hunter’s motion.

Moved by G. Hunter

That any modified well and septic program include equitable treatment of all residential properties on private well and septic systems in Ottawa.

CARRIED

Committee then considered the staff recommendations, as amended.