You likely see Drinking Water Protection Zone road signs throughout the Quinte Source Protection Area. The signs are posted across Ontario to raise awareness about protecting drinking water sources and public health.
The signs identify zones along frequently traveled roads where accidental pollution spills could travel quickly to a public drinking water source and contaminate it. During an accidental spill emergency the signs alert emergency responders of the need to protect the public drinking water source. They also help to create public awareness of the importance of protecting drinking water sources.
Drinking Water Protection Zone road signs are part of Ontario's Source Water Protection program under the Clean Water Act, which empowers communities to better protect their local water sources. Approximately 800 Drinking Water Protection Zone road signs have been installed across the province on municipal and provincial roads and highways. Look for the signs in these local municipalities: Belleville, Prince Edward County, Marmora and Lake, Centre Hastings, Madoc Township, Tweed, Deseronto and Greater Napanee and along the highways as you travel.
The road signs are called for in the Quinte Region Source Protection Plan. This Plan, developed under Ontario's Clean Water Act, directs local efforts to protect and keep the sources of municipal water clean and plentiful.
Fun Fact:
The first Drinking Water Protection Zone road sign in the province was installed on Lennox and Addington Road 2 in the Town of Greater Napanee in November 2015.