I support the extension of…

I support the extension of the moratorium.

I believe there is a great deal of additional information that is needed to establish new and better regulations. There is a looming challenge facing the world in providing clean drinking water. Ontario has a major challenge ahead in meeting the needs of a growing population particularly in many areas of southern Ontario. Many rural communities face dramatic increases in population with a concurrent need for jobs. A great deal of information is needed relative to total ecosystems in communities reliant on aquifers for drinking water. All too little in known about recharge rates or locations for many aquifers. All too little is known about long-term water-taking from aquifers.

In my local community there is a projected doubling of the population by 2041 under the Places to Grow Act. There is a large-scale water taking being pursued by a multinational company. There is a Scoped Tier 3 Assessment being undertaken and a Water Supply Master Plan being developed. There is clearly a need for an extension of the moratorium since the studies being undertaken will not be completed until well into next year.

The additional time involved could very usefully be used to review the permit application procedures. I believe the terms of reference for granting permits could be improved in several ways.
First is the establishment of local community needs and the priority that should be given to those needs. Second is the consideration of long-term needs. Our communities will be home to our children and grandchildren. Limiting consideration of aquifer quantities to a short five year time frame is not very useful.
Third is the consideration of the entire community affected by water taking. Current studies such as the Scoped Tier 3 only deal with municipal water supplies. The studies do not consider the needs of farmers for water for livestock or irrigation for example. Major assumptions are being made about water withdrawal from aquifers on water availability in the overburden layer.
Fourth is the consideration of the entire ecosystem. Water taking from the aquifer may alter the dynamics of the entire water system involving wetlands, cold water streams, and more.

I hope the extended time will allow a serious examination of these issues and the more complete assessment of water-taking permits in the future.