Groundwater must be better…

Groundwater must be better protected by policy and regulation. Commercial water bottling is a purely consumptive water extraction. Water that leaves the watershed is a threat to drinking water. Much of Ontario depends solely on groundwater for drinking water. It does not make any sense to give away water to be packaged in plastic and shipped out of the watershed.

Centre Wellington is a case in point. The Water Supply Master Plan states that 4 new municipal walls are needed to service the fast growing population. The best place to site those wells is the west side of Elora where Nestle has purchased a well despite the municipality's attempt to do so.

The Tier 3 Water Budget study funded by MECP is not yet complete and will not be fully complete until February of 2021. This moratorium is a half measure but does extend protection for half of that time period. Other communities that do not have Master Plans or Tier 3 studies completed are vulnerable to commercial water bottlers.

Our futures are uncertain. We must used judgement that is cautious and conserves our water. Present policies are outdated and timid given our present circumstances and concerns for a safe and stable future.