Elevated phosphorous levels threaten drinking water
by Melissa Schneider, originally posted on November 10, 2016
With Ontario adopting a 40 percent phosphorous load reduction target by 2025, the province is now seeking input from the public that will support the Canada-Ontario Action Plan for Lake Erie.
Both Canada and the U.S. adopted the target reduction strategy based on extensive consultation on both sides. Lake Erie is shared by Ontarians as well as four states, and serves as a source of drinking water for over 11 million people. Ontario signed the Western Basin of Lake Erie collaborative agreement with Ohio and Michigan in June 2015, with an interim goal of reducing phosphorous by 20 percent by 2020.
Brian McDougall, general manager of the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, said all the conservation authorities have been working together to discuss the issue and will be assisting provincial ministries in achieving the target.
“Right now conservation authorities have a whole suite of what we call best management practices, or stewardship type projects that we use to assist local landowners and guide farm owners to reduce their phosphorous use,” he said.
While the phosphorous issue does not specifically drive a lot of projects that get funded, McDougall explained reductions are a by-product of the work that’s being completed.
In August 2014 the problem came to a head in Toledo, Ohio, after residents weren’t able to access drinking water due to algae blooms in Lake Erie. With Lake Erie being looked at currently, the report suggests Lake Ontario will be the next priority for reduction targets.
With approximately 75 percent of the Lake Erie watershed in Ontario used in agricultural production, farmland as well as run-off from urban areas are considered to be major factors in the creation of elevated phosphorous levels.
While Ontarians are working on meeting their targets, McDougall said the issue is more concerning on the American side.
“Certainly it’s understood that the American side is a greater contributor, and they’ve also had what I would consider to be some more serious issues from this,” McDougall said. “However I do think it’s one of these things that we all have to be working on together.”
The report is open for public comment until Nov. 20 and can be found online at www. ebr.gov.on.ca under the key words nutrient management.