A southwestern Ontario sod farm and its director have been fined after years of failing to meet provincial water reporting requirements and submitting inaccurate information to regulators. The case also revealed problems with an on-site well that had not been properly documented or disinfected before being put into use, according to a August 2025 court bulletin.
Strathroy Turf Farms Ltd., based in Appin, Ontario, and its sole director, James Glover, were convicted in a London court on April 3, 2025, after multiple violations under Ontario’s Nutrient Management Act and the Water Resources Act. The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks said the company had failed to submit water-taking records for several years and filed misleading reports about the use of non-agricultural source materials on its property.
Glover, meanwhile, was found responsible for not properly recording, disinfecting, or securing a well on the site after making alterations to its casing in 2018.
The convictions stem from offences committed between October 2018 and July 2024. Strathroy Turf Farms was fined $24,000 plus a $6,000 victim surcharge, while Glover was fined $2,000 plus a $250 surcharge. Both have 180 days to pay.
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According to the ministry, the farm accepts non-agricultural source materials such as pulp and paper biosolids and sewage biosolids, which must be carefully tracked and applied in accordance with a nutrient management plan. In 2022, the company filed inconsistent reports with the ministry about how much material had been spread on its land, later blaming clerical errors for the discrepancies. The same year, inspectors discovered the unrecorded well and confirmed the farm had failed to submit water-taking records for four consecutive years.
The ministry’s Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch laid charges following its inspection and review. Officials said the case underscores the importance of accurate record-keeping and compliance with regulations designed to protect Ontario’s water resources.
