The SK6 &SK7 permit…

The SK6 &SK7 permit applications in this posting will allow the taking of over 100 million Imperial gallons a year of new ground water to be used only for industrial process cooling. The other two permits, SK1 & SK4, say the applications are to withdraw just under 1 million Imperial gallons of water a year for a “water supply”, presumably be used for drinking water or for cleaning?

Is there not a better way to cool the on-site industrial processes instead of taking this much fresh groundwater a year continually for 10 years? Why not use cooling towers or ponds with recirculation and/or reuse instead? Mining fresh groundwater just for cooling seems like a resource waste.

These permits are being proposed as Category 1 permits (where water takings are anticipated to have a lower risk of causing an unacceptable environmental impact/interference). How was taking this much presumably pristine ground water for just cooling water judged as an acceptable public environmental impact ? What was it judged against?

What is the recharge rate to the aquifer? Is part of the water recharged back into it? Is there going to be a net groundwater loss annually or over the next 10 years and how can the public be reassured that giving a permit for that long a period won’t conflict with the need for potable water for housing, agriculture, or other as-important uses?

For example, Waterloo has ben given a Provincial target of 16,000 new homes by 2031. What does the Region of Waterloo think of the proposal (Breslau water supply is governed by the Region of Waterloo)? To cope with other potentially more, or as important, water demand such for housing would it not be better to have the permit be evaluated against other needs or to at least have a review every 5 years instead of every 10?