Are there laws in Ontario governing water conservation?

There are no specific provincial laws mandating water conservation. However, the recent introduction of the Sustainable Water and Sewage Systems Act is likely to result in higher water rates and provide an incentive for conservation programs. Canadians are among the most wasteful users of water in the world. According to Environment Canada surveys, the average Canadian uses more than 300 litres per day, more than any country except the United States. One reason for our extravagant use of water is that it has historically been underpriced. In December 2002 the government of Ontario passed the Sustainable Water and Sewage Systems Act that requires municipalities to assess and recover the full cost of providing water and sewage services, although this Act has not yet come into force. Its purpose is to ensure that municipalities operate their water treatment plants on a sound financial basis incorporating all costs of treatment. By assessing and allocating the full costs, municipalities ...