22 August 2007
message in a Pure Life (trademark) bottle
The Region of Waterloo in partnership with the Counties of Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk as well as the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and The Misssissaugas of New Credit First Nation issued public notice of their Request for Expressions of Interest in The Nanticoke Grand Valley Area Water Supply Project--Feasibility Study as of 21 August 2007.
Quite a mouthful, gentle reader? Yes, it's all about "deliver[ing] Lake Erie water to the above partners by utilizing....existing assets owned by Haldimand County at Nanticoke. So much for the anticipated date of 2031 to augment water supplies in Region of Waterloo-- are we running short already? or just anticipating shortages*? Only the Region of Waterloo has access to groundwater whereas the other partners listed above already draw their water from the Grand River.
Elsewhere in the Grand River watershed, a $3,000 annual water-taking permit allows transnational corporation Nestle Waters Canada to pump 3.6 million litres of "Pure Life" water from Aberfoyle each day + another 1.1 million litres of water from Hillsburgh, also within the Grand River watershed gratis. According to Wellington Water Watchers, "the 3.6 million litres is the equivalent of about seven per cent of the water used daily in Guelph... which would cost about $2,700 a day if drawn from a tap in Guelph." (1)
When Nestle applied in 2005 for a two-year renewal of its permit to take that much water, "only two people commented" on the little-known MOE registry.However, this year s application to renew the water-taking permit was opposed by some 6,000 public comments posted to the MOE website. For now, the application is on hold. At request of MOE, Nestle is doing more monitoring of Mill Creek stream flow and temperatures. For the record, Nestle reports “water temperatures are healthy and water flow is normal.” (2)
“In 2005 local natural resources officials had cause to believe that Mill Creek, and the adjoining Aberfoyle Mill Pond, along with the groundwater system associated with it, was under stress from drought conditions and water extraction by Nestle....’staff ...feel that additional pumping from this well will have a negative impact on shallow groundwater discharge to the Aberfoyle Mill Pond tributary of Mill Creek.’” (3) A consultant's report supported the MNR staff position thus: “Data collected in late 2004 by Conestoga Rovers Associates showed that increased water extraction at supply well TW3-80 resulted in a measurable reduction of the amount of groundwater entering Mill Creek...When Nestle was pumping from their well.., Mill Creek was not being charged by groundwater; in fact, Mill Creek was recharging the groundwater. (1)
The consultant for Puslinch Township has this to say: "As in other streams in Ontario, during periods of low precipitation, Mill Creek relies upon groundwater discharge for flow volume and for cooling. In 1999, the
stream flow in Mill Creek downstream from the Nestle Waters Canada facility decreased to a historic low....this is attributed to drought conditions, groundwater diversion into aggregate areas and water taking at Aberfoyle
Springs Co. Ltd.”.....”The Nestle Waters Canada documentation suggests that local impacts to Mill Creek are negligible. It is our opinion that significant impacts to Mill Creek are inevitable given the nature of the flow system.” (3)
“The [Aberfoyle/Mill Creek] watershed is being depleted rather than restored and conserved. ...Since Nestle pays nothing for the water they take, the only beneficiaries seem to be Nestle’s shareholders.” (1)
"They are threatening our future water supply, and my question is why the province is giving it away for free to a multinational that puts it in plastic bottles, creating mountains of waste, when [the province] should be preserving that water for our grandchildren." (4)
Note: if this permit is approved, it will be valid for 5 year period. $4,927,500 Aberfoyle = $1,527,525 Hillsburgh = $6,455,025 free ride for Nestle. Long term cost to entire Grand River watershed? incalculable!
Photos copyright Sandamara Images 2005L to R: Aberfoyle-Mill Creek upstream at Killean & Aberfoyle Mill Pond.
Note: if this permit is approved, it will be valid for 5 year period. $4,927,500 Aberfoyle = $1,527,525 Hillsburgh = $6,455,025 free ride for Nestle. Long term cost to entire Grand River watershed? incalculable!
Photos copyright Sandamara Images 2005L to R: Aberfoyle-Mill Creek upstream at Killean & Aberfoyle Mill Pond.
Sources: (1)Wellington Water Watchers letter to MOE re Nestle Renewal of Permit to take Water dated 8
May 2007; (2)Magda Konieczna, Water bottler steps up monitoring, The Record 18 Aug 07; (3)Puslinch Twp/Harden Environmental letter to MOE re Nestle application dated 1 June 2005; (4)Doug Hallett, “ Move to cap water bottler,” Guelph Tribune 20 Apr 07. Also: (3)Rob O’Flanagan , Nestle water permit draws fire, The Record 10 Jul 07.
Notes: *Lake Erie pipeline by 2031? Talks held with Haldimand, Norfolk, Brant counties as well as
Guelph, Brantford, and First Nations communities per news report by Bob Burtt, Puslinch residents worry about wells planned for Cambridge side of border, The Record 06 Jul 06;
Labels: water
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