To Whom it May Concern, I…

To Whom it May Concern,
I read with interest the proposal to require municipal support for new or increased bottled water takings. I applaud the move toward requiring municipal permissions for water takings of any kind. I would like to outline some concerns:

1. A municipal council resolution supporting a proposed water taking would be valid for five years is far too long. I would suggest a maximum of 3 years.

2. If the local host municipal council initially supports the proposed water taking but subsequently passes a municipal council resolution withdrawing its support for the proposed water taking, the application should not be allowed to proceed.

3. The proposed requirement to have the support of the local host municipality for a proposed bottled water taking should apply to all companies proposing to take any amount of water daily, not simply the ones proposing daily water takings greater than 379,000 litres.

4. Permits from host municipalities should be required for companies that need to renew an existing permit to take water for the same or lower permitted volume, the same purpose and the same location of water taking.

5. No companies should be permitted to take bottled water from municipal water sources.

6. Municipalities should have the right to review and understand why a company might need to replace an existing water source, with recourse to suspend or withdraw permitting if the replacement of the water source is a result of a negative impact on the current water source.

7. Unorganized territories still have local governance at some level. In the absence of governance by municipality in the strictest sense, then the next lowest, local governing body should have the ability to permit water taking.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my suggestions. This is a beautiful province in a wonderful country. We must safeguard our natural resources now as a guarantee of resilience in the future.
Take care,