Wellington Water Watchers …

Wellington Water Watchers (WWW) is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization based in Guelph, Ontario with a particular focus on the Grand River Watershed. Our concerns about Lafarge Canada's current application for a Permit to take Water (ERO 019-0240) reflect our precautionary focus on both the specific and cumulative impacts of industry and development on the aquifer, rivers, streams and other watershed tributaries, wetlands, land forms and eco-systems that play fundamentally critical parts in the discharge, recharge, sustainability and quality of potable water in Wellington County. Management of water-taking and use has assumed increasing importance in our region. Climate change and sustainable water-supply and -security are inextricably linked. We ask that serious consideration be given to the risks and significant impacts this application will have on our waters and immediate environment.

The proponent, Lafarge, has applied for water-taking permits to facilitate the proposed extension of their aggregate quarry at 7051 Wellington Road 124 in Guelph-Eramosa Township. Lafarge 's staggering request indicates they intend to use 27,772,320 million litres each day for industrial purposes (9,713,341,600 billion litres each year) for a period of 10 years. It is their intention to discharge most of this water into the wetlands and Speed River that surround the quarry site - which also includes cement and asphalt-production operation capabilities. Lafarge held one public information session in late July at a City of Guelph recreational facility located on the opposite side of the city and away from the Guelph-Eramosa Township (GET) quarry location it proposes to develop.

Lafarge is on record as saying they intend to extract aggregate from below the water table and use dewatering methods to maintain the pit. They have detailed five water sources from which they will take water. The Quarry Sump, On-Site Supply Well, and Quarry Water Management Pond will become their primary water sources. There will be impact on groundwater, both in terms of volume and discharge, and in terms of the potential for contamination from post-blasting chemical residue, bedrock fractures acting as conduits to the aquifer, or the breaching of the Viewmount aquitard. (We note that blasting in the former Dolime quarry breached the aquitard.)

Given the proponent's proposed quarry extension is situated in an area of GET where groundwater has been described as “at significant risk” and that it borders an important wetland as well as the Speed River, Wellington Water Watchers has the following concerns:

* Contamination of groundwater.
Dewatering creates an excess amount of groundwater at the surface which requires infiltration or recirculation and pumping back as groundwater. Rivers are conduits, not recharge basins. Wetlands may be groundwater discharge areas, but not every wetland is a recharge area.

* What percentage of operationally used groundwater will be discharged into the Speed River? We know this discharged water will not stay for any length of time in the area, but will eventually make its way to Lake Erie and we are concerned about all downstream impacts.

* Blasting
The earth-quake-like shaking that immediately follows quarry blasting can impact structures and private water supply systems over a significant area of surrounding land.

* Impact of the dewatering process on surrounding wetlands and Speed River eco-systems.
What vegetation and species will be impacted or destroyed? What about water levels and saturation points? Clearly, the potential and the eventuality of long-term or permanent changes to both the wetland and Speed River eco-systems must be considered in the context of the proposed quarry extension.

* Impact of dewatering on salinity levels in the wetlands, Speed River and aquifer.
Lafarge has indicated that the water they discharge through the dewatering process will eventually infiltrate back into the aquifer after being discharged into the wetlands and Speed River.

* What will the drawdown impact be on the aquifer over one year – ten years?

* What impact will there be on surrounding private well water levels over one year – ten years?

Groundwater is the source of drinking water in Guelph and Guelph-Eramosa Township, and its sustainability as contaminant-free, quality potable water is critically important. There are currently 6000 licensed quarries in Ontario with enough inventory to last for decades. Your consideration of the proponent's request for a water-taking permit covering such massive quantities of groundwater in a geographic area that is totally dependent on that water is vital. The paramount importance of the Grand River Watershed, aquifer, wetlands, bio-diverse eco-systems, and geo-composition to our water must never be underestimated or destroyed for industrial purposes or by poor stewardship.

Wellington Water Watchers proposes the following:

* A comprehensive Environmental Assessment by qualified third partyagencies is required for this proposed quarry extension, including a comprehensive hydrogeological study, a comprehensive bio-environmental study, and a comprehensive wetland and river species habitat assessment, with results of these assessments being made available to the public.

* A commitment to return groundwater used in the dewatering process to drinking water quality.

* Independent third party monitoring & analysis of groundwater from beginning to end of use.

* A plan for full compensation by the proponent for restitution should wells in the area go dry, eco-systems be destroyed, or rivers/tributaries be contaminated.