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 million in grant to support 3,674 projects since 1999. Wellington County has provided $7.6 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 $19 million toward the completion of these projects for a total investment of over $30.3 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 66,188 kg of phosphorus is retained on the landscape annually resulting from projects implemented since 1999.
  • 1034 tree planting projects have resulted in 1 million trees planted on 1,566 acres. This includes the establishment of 249 km of windbreaks and 76 km of stream and wetland buffer.
  • 622 water wells were properly decommissioned and 658 upgraded to protect groundwater.
  • 115 fencing projects have restricted 5,194 livestock, creating buffers and stabilizing banks along 50 km of watercourse.
  • 236 cover crop projects protected 14,516 acres from water and wind erosion during the non-growing season.
  • 223 nutrient management plans help to guide efficient nutrient applications on an estimated 43,772 acres.
  • 206 manure storage facilities improved to avoid winter spreading and efficiently manage nutrients. 
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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.


2023 Highlights

  • Wellington County contributed $425,000 to support the program. 
  • 98 projects were completed in Wellington County by 76 landowners, 38 of which are new to the program. 
  • In 2023, a total of $368,702 was provided to landowners through the WRWQP. Of that, $327,361 was provided by Wellington County with an additional $41,340 leveraged from other funding sources.
  • $393,179 is allocated to projects to be completed in 2024.