Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment on your recent third party consulting regarding the Water Quantity Management Framework for Ontario. Although the catalist for this review came from concerns with bottled water, I am pleased that in the MECP studies areas of concern for ongoing sustainablility for water resources.

Of note, this same report it cites: “The review highlighted areas where groundwater and surface water are closely linked and where water quantity stress to one resource can quickly affect the other. Some areas using shallow groundwater sources (e.g., Quinte, Norfolk Sand Plain, and Whitemans Creek watershed) are also sensitive to drought. In the Quinte study area, water availability is naturally limited due to the ability of the local geology to store water.” It is with the Quinte area that I am compelled to comment.

I am a resident of the Quinte area. My home is in Tyendinaga Township. Residents in our township are totally reliant on wells with the exception of a handful of homes in the village of Shannonville. Shannonville is home to both residents from Tyendinaga Township and Tyendinaga Territory (Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte). A water treatment facility was recently made available to these homes and other homes on the territory by the Federal Government. I cannot comment on the status of water on the Tyendinaga Territory but know this was identified as a gap in BluMetric’s reporting. The following link gives insite into the government’s announcement a year ago.

https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2019/07/water-inves…

Large water takings from Long’s Quarry (to my knowledge the only company with a PTTW in Tyendinaga Township), that have pumped billions of litres of water, and continue to do so, are very concerning. A 2005 denied PTTW whereby the operator continued to pump, was followed, once discovered in 2011, by a 1 year PTTW and a 2 year PTTW. This became the subject of an ERT hearing in 2015, which resulted in a 5 year PTTW with Low Water conditions. The operator has continued to breach these conditions. The investigations branch of the MECP is involved at this time. This ongoing disregard for water sharing is hugely concerning, particularly when it was identified in the hearing that we only have one, low yeild aquifer. I agree with your guidelines re water and agree that industrial usuage such as quarrying should be lowest priority. Added to the mix a non compliant operator, and I become at a loss as why the MECP continues to allow this PTTW.

I want to comment also on BluMetric Water Quality Study Area QSA apendix C Figure 9. As noted, Tyendinaga Township has the highest population growth of noted Hastings County areas. Specifically on page 378 Tyendinaga Township is referenced as a concern. I am not only concerned for the sustainablily of rural water supply to meet human and animal needs, but am very worried about the potential for a second quarry (Melrose) adjacent to the current Long’s . Since this first passed the Official plan in 2012, Hastings County/Tyendinaga Township have awarded approximately 35 new build/lots in the vicinity of the proposed quarry coupled with multiple residents already in existance. The surrounding area is farmland which includes not only crops but livestock. (I did not see livestock addressed in BluMetric’s work although we know that they consume large quantities of water). The licensing for Melrose Quarry is currently before LPAT.

On page 366 (same document) BluMetric notes 20 low water notifications between 2000 and 2018. Quinte has also had them in 2019 and 2020. Today, Quinte Conservation declared Low Water 2 for our area. https://inquinte.ca/story/quinte-conservation-announces-level-2-low-wat…

The study notes Climate change effects predicted for 2050 and 2090 show great concern for lowering water availability. I agree with the statement on page 380 that “development should be limited in privately serviced areas where groundwater supply is determined to be limited or potentially impacted by Climate change in the future”.

BluMetrics Final Summary, May 2020 notes the study areas, except for the the northern one, are know to be experiencing stress. I quote from page 12 re Quinte:
“Ground water will not be sustainable in the summer and in times of drought. This is based on current water use, measued water levels, flow and climate conditions.”

Surface Water: it is not sustainable in the summer and in times of drought. This is based on current water use, measured water levels, low and climate conditions.

“surface water will not be sustainable in the future as a result of climate change”

Water is critical for health and ultimately life. The World Health Organization (2003) declared that, “Domestic water supplies are one of the fundamental requirements for human life. Without water, life cannot be sustained beyond a few days and lack of adequate access to water supplies leads to the spread of disease”. Water concerns for our health and safety are a very real threat to our rural community.

Recommendation:

Ontario cannot risk issuing PTTWs to areas that are documented as stuggling. I respectfully request that the areas of that were chosen for study due to their know water quality issues have further review. Until that is accomplished I request a moratoruim on all PTTWs for these areas and in particular for Tyendinaga Township in Quinte, which has been identified as one of the areas of greatest risk.