What statutes govern water in Ontario?
The principal environmental statutes in Ontario that govern water quantity and quality may be summarized as follows: • Environmental Protection Act – prohibits discharge of any contaminant to the environment in amounts exceeding limits prescribed by the regulations; prohibits discharge of contaminants into the environment that cause or are likely to cause adverse effects; requires spills of pollutants to be reported and cleaned up promptly and establishes liability on the party at fault; administered by the Ministry of the Environment; • Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act – generally regulates public and private use of lakes and rivers; regulates construction, repair and use of dams; prohibits deposit of refuse, matter or substances into lakes and rivers contrary to the purposes of the Act; administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources; • Nutrient Management Act – provides a framework for setting standards for nutrient management on farms; enables the passage of regulations for nutri
