Rural Water Quality Program

Ground water needs to be protected to meet the needs of current and future residents. 

Initiated in 1999, the Wellington Rural Water Quality Program (WRWQP) provides financial and technical assistance to Wellington County farmers, implementing voluntary projects to improve and protect water quality. The program, funded by the County, is administered by the Grand River Conservation Authority and delivered by local Conservation Authority staff.

The WRWQP has provided over $11.7 million in grant to support 3,862 projects since 1999. Wellington County has provided $8.2 million in grant, the City of Guelph $1 million in past contributions with the remainder coming from a variety of sources. Landowners have contributed over $21.9 million toward the completion of these projects for a total investment of over $33.6 million to improve and protect local surface and groundwater quality.

Program Impacts 

Since 1999, the Wellington Rural Water Quality Program has provided support for projects to benefit local water quality. These voluntary, private land stewardship projects offer benefits to individual properties, Wellington County, and downstream communities. Program highlights since 1999 include: 

  • An estimated 68,868 kg of phosphorus is retained on the landscape annually resulting from projects implemented since 1999.
  • 1,095 tree planting projects have resulted in 1.04 million trees planted on 1,665 acres. This includes the establishment of 280 km of windbreaks and 81 km of stream and wetland buffer.
  • 645 water wells were properly decommissioned and 697 upgraded to protect groundwater.
  • 115 fencing projects have now excluded 5,194 livestock from waterways, creating vegetated buffers and stabilizing banks along 50 km of watercourse.
  • 265 cover crop projects protected 19,386 acres from water and wind erosion during the non-growing season.
  • 235 nutrient management plans are guiding efficient nutrient applications on an estimated 45,578 acres.
  • 215 manure storage facilities improved to reduce winter spreading and support more efficient nutrient management.
RWQP Windbreak and Storage Tank

Above projects were completed in 2023. Left: A windbreak established to shelter crops and protect soil from erosion. Right: A storage tank that holds manure and runoff until it can be applied to fields according to a Nutrient Management Plan.

2025 Highlights

  • 68 projects were completed across Wellington County by 48 landowners: 23 of which were new to the program.
  • A total of $259,704 was provided to landowners for completed projects. This includes projects approved in 2024 and 2025. Of that amount, $213,283 was provided by Wellington County with an additional $46,420 leveraged from other Conservation Authority delivered programs.
  • Wellington County contributed $309,000 to the program in 2025 to support new project allocations. As of December 31, 2025, a total of $402,880 was allocated to projects scheduled for completion in 2026.

Other Resources