When extracted, sand and…

When extracted, sand and gravel are important construction materials. But aggregates in the ground already provide an essential service filtering Waterloo Region’s groundwater.

Our community relies mostly on underground aquifers for our drinking water. We have learned the hard way how important it is to protect this resource: in 1989, toxic chemicals were found in the groundwater beneath the Uniroyal Chemical site in Elmira. Experts say it will be decades before Elmira's water is safe to drink again.

Waterloo Region’s aggregate resources are already useful – essential, even, for the continued health and safety of our communities. Any extraction of aggregates weakens their function and increases the risk to clean water.

It’s also important to think about what sits on top of aggregate resources: productive farmland that feeds our region. Residents in Waterloo Region have a deep appreciation for our local farms. They too provide an essential service. Land that is rehabilitated after extraction rarely compares to the original farmland, and only 20% of aggregate operations in the Region of Waterloo have been rehabilitated. Drainage patterns, filtration capabilities, soil quality, and the local ecosystem are degraded.

Aggregate extraction in our communities weakens our ability to feed ourselves, and weakens our access to safe, clean, plentiful water. Every new pit is another weak link in the chain of our local ecosystem. The cumulative impacts of aggregate extraction must be considered in ARA applications.

We support the Region of Waterloo’s comments contained in their Report PDL-CPL-20-06, which was submitted in response to Proposal 019-1303. In particular, we recommend:

- that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) require applicants to submit a minimum of two years of groundwater monitoring data to establish the water table;

- that the Province prohibit outright all aggregate extraction activities within a Category A or B WHPA under the Clean Water Act; and

- that municipalities be given the ability to appeal decisions to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

Furthermore, we urge the Province to:

- amend the ARA to restore the use of municipal zoning to restrict the depth of extraction of an aggregate operation; and

- require that aggregate extraction applications consider the cumulative impact of all current and approved pits within the wellhead protection area.

Respectfully,

Hold The Line Waterloo Region