Ontario Regulation 208/26, made under the Clean Water Act, 2006, introduces a series of amendments to Ontario Regulation 287/07 (General) aimed at improving source water protection processes, administrative requirements, digital access to regulatory information, and clarifying procedures for amending source protection plans. The amendments reflect a broader shift toward electronic publication, more efficient approvals, and clearer coordination between source protection authorities, municipalities, and the provincial government.

A change introduced by Ontario Regulation 208/26 is the replacement of several traditional public notice and document access requirements with online publication requirements. Previously, source protection committees and authorities were often required to make documents available for inspection at physical locations or publish notices through newspapers. The amendments now require draft documents, including proposed amendments to terms of reference, assessment reports, updated assessment reports, and source protection plans, to be published on the Internet. Public notices must still be issued, but the method of publication is now determined by the relevant source protection committee, authority, or municipal council based on what will effectively bring the notice to the attention of the affected public.

The regulation updates consultation requirements throughout Ontario Regulation 287/07. Source protection committees preparing amendments to terms of reference, assessment reports, updated assessment reports, or source protection plans must prepare draft versions and publish them online before submitting proposals to source protection authorities. These changes are intended to increase transparency while reducing administrative burdens associated with maintaining physical inspection locations and newspaper notices. Municipal councils are also given greater flexibility in determining appropriate methods of notifying residents about relevant resolutions.

Ontario Regulation 208/26 also creates new procedures for amendments to source protection plans. New sections 48.1 and 48.2 establish specific requirements for submitting proposed amendments to the Minister and provide a framework for source protection authorities to approve certain amendments. Authorities submitting proposed amendments must provide supporting documentation, including covering letters, summaries of proposed changes, technical studies, written public comments, municipal resolutions, and supporting data for new or altered vulnerable areas.

Ontario (208/2026) July 15, 2026
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.