Water is a precious resource…

Water is a precious resource. Contamination and disturbance of groundwater sources can be complex and costly. Protecting our groundwater must be a top priority in Ontario.

Alternatives are available for washing aggregate, without disturbing precious water resources. For example, Ontario could protect water resources by requiring this industry to install a system to collect, recycle and reuse aggregate washwater. The following link provides one instance of a water recycling system for washing aggregate, “reducing the need for fresh water by 90%”.

Ontario officials need to provide direction and leadership to encourage the industry to adopt sustainable solutions now. Given the absence of any current data regarding the health and resilience of the ecosystem against the ‘potential of causing unacceptable environmental impact’’, as well as the availability of alternate solutions, this application should be denied.