Dear Sir,
Pride and patriotism assumes many forms including defending one’s country and opposing the systematic withdrawal of water by multinational companies.
The brave souls who walked on July 1 alerted us to the local challenge on Middlebrook Road.
The Ontario Government’s assigning water extraction permits to multinationals is concerning given it creates competition for a limited resource as the people of California are discovering.
The three Elora municipal wells draw on average 1.7 million litres per day. This number is likely to double by 2040 according to projected Township growth rates. The Middlebrook Water Company sought by Nestle is licensed to extract 1,637000 litres of water per day.
My concerns are and should be those of your readers:
• Is the local water aquifer able to sustain the withdrawal of 1.7 million litres per day plus Nestle’s draw?
• What is the replenishing rate of the aquifer given we do not get the level of rainfall to match the extraction rate?
• Why, during drought conditions are residents subjected to water restrictions that are voluntary for multinational water companies?
• Who will get priority when water resources begin to deplete? A water sustainability study published by POLIS in 2011 and citing a 2009 GRCA Water Quantity Stress Assessment indicates the Fergus-Elora region’s water supply availability will be at risk, requiring an expansion of its existing groundwater supply by 2028. It does not account for the presence of Nestle.
• What contingencies are in place for the eventual disappearance of the water? Who will pay?
• A contaminated well exists within the Elora Gorge Park near the proposed Nestle well. It is approximately 50 feet above the depth of the Nestle well. Will ongoing water extraction draw the contaminated water into the larger aquifer? What happens then? Will we become another Elmira? The GRCA opted to run a water line from Elora rather than drill a new well. Why?
• The Township decided in 2008 to locate its newest well on Cottontail Run rather than on Middlebrook Road or in the Elora Gorge Park citing potential contamination issues.
• What happens to our property values should our water become contaminated or scarce? Are we facing similar problems experienced by Walkerton and Elmira?
Perhaps a more fitting cartoon would be of an ostrich with its head stuck in the sand ignoring the Friends of Elora trying to stop a Nestle’s water truck, overflowing with water. I for one intend not to be an ostrich.
Ian MacRae
