OSPE Position Statement – Enhancing Water Resilience, Innovation, and Equity in Ontario

Water is an essential service and critical to the health and economic prosperity of our communities. Ontario currently faces rising water risks from climate change, aging systems and growth pressures. Access to safe water services is inconsistent across the province, especially in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.

OSPE urges the adoption of engineering-led approaches to the provision of water services that prioritize public health, equity, resilience, and innovation. A coordinated provincial strategy, developed in collaboration with engineers, municipalities, Indigenous partners, and researchers, is necessary to deliver safe, sustainable, and climate-resilient water services for all Ontarians.

Key Recommendations

Develop a Provincial Water Security Strategy

• Continue to align ministries and municipalities around clear goals for public health, source protection, and resilience.  
• In cooperation with the federal government, embed meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities.

Strengthen Drinking Water Treatment Standards

• Modernize quality expectations to address today’s contaminants and climate impacts.
• Apply proven advanced treatment where appropriate.

Invest in Infrastructure Renewal and Monitoring

• Accelerate the renewal of aging water/wastewater assets.
• Promote real-time monitoring and early-warning systems to manage risk.

Promote Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (DWWT)

• Recognize DWWT as a scalable option for underserved and growing areas.

Support Innovation and Data Sharing

• Invest in provincial data platforms
• Promote partnerships that advance smart water technologies, analytics, and artificial intelligence.

Advance Water Equity and Access

• Ensure that all Ontarians have affordable access to safe water services, including those in low-income households and in remote or rural communities.

Further Integrate Water Engineering into Housing and Urban Planning

• Require flood resilience, stormwater reuse, and low-impact development considerations in planning and approvals.

Require Adoption and Fund Climate-Resilient Design Standards

• Establish province-wide standards to ensure drinking water infrastructure can withstand flooding, drought, and temperature extremes, recognizing the potential impacts of climate change.

***

Engineers are central to securing Ontario’s water future. OSPE calls on the Province of Ontario to adopt this evidence-based agenda to ensure safe, equitable, and climate-resilient water systems for future generations.