Smiths Falls assures residents drinking water is safe after compost site approval

Town officials are reassuring residents of Smith Falls that drinking water remains safe, following public concern about a municipal compost site located within a designated Intake Protection Zone.

On Sept. 11, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) approved an updated Environmental Compliance Approval for the compost site. The decision followed years of investigation, including soil, surface water and groundwater testing, as well as hydrogeological studies and a technical review by external consultants and ministry staff.

“The drinking water in Smiths Falls is safe,” the town said in its announcement, “Regular testing of treated drinking water continues to meet all provincial standards, and the MECP has not identified any risks to the municipal drinking water system.”

According to town officials, the review process was triggered by a mapping inaccuracy from the site’s original 1992 approval, which required updated studies. While soil and groundwater sampling did reveal some elevated levels in certain areas, officials say those results were fully disclosed in the town’s submission and carefully reviewed before approval was granted.

As part of the approval, the town must conduct annual surface and groundwater testing each July, submit monitoring reports to the province by Nov. 30, and ensure the site operates under new and updated environmental standards.

“Protecting the health and safety of our residents is, and always will be, our top priority,” said Mayor Shawn Pankow. “The drinking water in Smiths Falls is safe, and our commitment to transparency, accountability, and strong environmental stewardship remains firm.”

In their statement, the town acknowledged that while concerns and “misinformation” have circulated about the site, they reject any claims of secrecy or selective reporting, clarifying that all data was shared with the ministry as part of the approval process.