GFL Environmental Inc. - Permit to take water

Instrument type: Permit to take water

ERO number
025-0785
Ministry reference number
1415-DHHQS8
Notice type
Instrument
Act
Ontario Water Resources Act, R.S.O. 1990
Posted by
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Notice stage
Decision
Decision posted
Comment period
July 10, 2025 - August 9, 2025 (30 days) Closed
Last updated

This consultation was open from:
July 10, 2025
to August 9, 2025

Follow this notice

Decision summary

Permit to Take Water No.1667-DMHN7W was issued to GFL Environmental Inc. on October 20, 2025. Water will be taken from nine wells in Hamilton, Ontario for groundwater remediation.

Location details

Site address

65 Green Mountain Road
Hamilton, ON
Canada

Site location map

The location pin reflects the approximate area where environmental activity is taking place.

View this location on a map opens link in a new window

Proponent(s)

GFL Environmental Inc.
100 New Park Place
Vaughan, ON
L4K0H9
Canada

Decision details

Permit to Take Water No. 1667-DMHN7W was issued to GFL Environmental Inc. on October 20, 2025. Water will be taken from nine wells in Hamilton, Ontario for groundwater remediation. Details of the water taking are as follows:

Note: The Ministry's original proposal notice contained a typographical error regarding the maximum volume per day for Source GW-PS. This has been corrected in this decision notice. The corrected value is consistent with the volume previously authorized by the Ministry.

Permit type - renewal

Source CW3

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 240
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 345,600
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source CW5

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 240
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 345,600
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source CW16

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 240
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 345,600
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source L1

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 240
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 345,600
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source GW-PS

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 5,455
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 7,865,000
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd​​​​​​​): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source M4

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 265
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 381,600
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd​​​​​​​): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source M5a

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 200
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 288,000
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd​​​​​​​): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source 5R

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 200
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 288,000
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd​​​​​​​): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source Perimeter Drain

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - dug
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 720
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 1,036,800
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd​​​​​​​): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Permits to Take Water include conditions that require the permit holder to:

  • collect and record the daily amount of water taken
  • comply with the terms and conditions in the permit
  • immediately report complaints or interference to the ministry
  • report water takings each year to the ministry

Issued Permits to Take Water can be viewed and downloaded at Access Ontario, by searching the approval number 1667-DMHN7W in the search field located at the top of the map, see “I want to…Search by Approval Number”, here: Access Environment

Access Environment displays the following information:

  • business name
  • facility address and location on an interactive map
  • type of approval or registration from the ministry (view a PDF& copy)
  • date of issue
  • status of the approval (approved, amended, revoked and/or replaced)
  • status of the registration (registered, suspended, removed)

Comments received

Through the registry

0

By email

1

By mail

0
View comments submitted through the registry

Effects of consultation

Comments relevant to the water-taking proposal were considered as part of the review of the application. The main concerns raised were regarding the following:

  • potential impacts of the groundwater taking on nearby private wells and natural features
  • request for a contingency plan to address water-taking during low-water conditions
  • suggestion to review and potentially revise the permitted water-taking volume based on actual use

In consideration of these comments, the technical information associated with this taking was reviewed. The potential for impacts to nearby private wells and natural features is low as there rea no significant groundwater receptors or natural surface water features within the taking zone of influence and there have been no reports of interferences with nearby private wells during the term of the previous Permit.

With respect to low-water response conditions, the Ontario Low Water Response (OLWR) Program applies primarily to surface-water users and employs a collaborative approach to manage surface-water withdrawals during low water periods. As the purpose of the takings are for groundwater remediation and takings are not likely to impact surface water, a contingency plan for low-water conditions is not required.

The reported water-use data were also reviewed in consideration of the suggestion to revise the permitted volume. It was concluded that the currently authorized volume remains appropriate based on the remedial purpose of the taking and the variability in site groundwater conditions. Recorded withdrawals remain well below the permitted limits, and no exceedances were identified.

Ministry staff have therefore determined that the conditions of the permit are sufficient to ensure that any potential effects can be identified and addressed through adaptive management, if necessary.

Supporting materials

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

Client Services and Permissions Branch
Address

135 St Clair Ave West
1st Floor
Toronto, ON
M4V 1P5
Canada

Office phone number
416-314-8001 or 1-800-461-6290

How to Appeal

This instrument decision can be appealed. You have 15 days from October 21, 2025 to begin the appeal process.

Carefully review the information below to learn more about the appeal process.

How to appealClick to Expand Accordion

Start the process to appeal

If you’re an Ontario resident, you can start the process to appeal this instrument decision.

First, you’ll need to seek leave (i.e. get permission) from the relevant appellate body to appeal the decision.

If the appellate body grants leave, the appeal itself will follow.

Seek leave to appeal

To seek leave to appeal, you need to do these three things:

  1. prepare your application
  2. provide notice to the minister
  3. mail your application to three parties

1. Prepare your application

You’ll need to prepare an application. You may wish to include the following things in your application:

  1. A document that includes:
    • your name, phone number, fax number (if any), and/or email address
    • the ERO number and ministry reference number (located on this page)
    • a statement about whether you are a resident in Ontario
    • your interest in the decision, and any facts you want taken into account in deciding whether you have an interest in the decision
    • the parts of the instrument that you’re challenging
    • whether the decision could result in significant harm to the environment
    • the reason(s) why you believe that no reasonable person – having regard to the relevant law and to any government policies developed to guide decisions of that kind – could have made the decision
    • the grounds (facts) you’ll be using to appeal
    • the outcome you’d like to see
  2. A copy of the instrument (approval, permit, order) that you you are seeking leave to appeal. You’ll find this in the decision notice on the Environmental Registry
  3. Copies of all supporting documents, facts and evidence that you’ll be using to appeal
What is considered

The appeal body will consider the following two questions in deciding whether to grant you leave to appeal:

  1. is there is good reason to believe that no reasonable person, with respect to the relevant law and to any government policies developed to guide decisions of that kind, could have made the decision?
  2. could the decision you wish to appeal result in significant harm to the environment?

2. Provide your notice

You’ll need to provide notice to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks that you’re seeking leave to appeal.

In your notice, please include a brief description of the:

  • decision that you wish to appeal
  • grounds for granting leave to appeal

You can provide notice by email at minister.mecp@ontario.ca or by mail at:

College Park 5th Floor, 777 Bay St.
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J3

3. Mail your application

You’ll need to mail your application that you prepared in step #1 to each of these three parties:

  • appellate body
  • issuing authority (the ministry official who issued the instrument)
  • proponent (the company or individual to whom the instrument was issued)

Issuing authority
Matt Corriveau
Signing Director

Environmental Permissions Branch
135 St Clair Ave West
5th Floor
Toronto, ON
M4V 1P5
Canada

416-845-3689

Proponent(s)

GFL Environmental Inc.
100 New Park Place
Vaughan, ON
L4K0H9
Canada


Appellate body

Registrar, Ontario Land Tribunal
655 Bay Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1E5
(416) 212-6349
(866) 448-2248
OLT.Registrar@ontario.ca

About the Ontario Land Tribunal


Include the following:

ERO number
025-0785
Ministry reference number
1415-DHHQS8

This is not legal advice. Please refer to the Environmental Bill of Rights for exact legal requirements. Consult a lawyer if you need help with the appeal process.

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Follow this notice

Original proposal

ERO number
025-0785
Ministry reference number
1415-DHHQS8
Notice type
Instrument
Act
Ontario Water Resources Act, R.S.O. 1990
Posted by
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Proposal posted

Comment period

July 10, 2025 - August 9, 2025 (30 days)

Proposal details

This proposal is for a Category three renewal to PTTW No. 8217-CCJRMY for groundwater remediation purposes. Water will be taken from nine wells in Hamilton, Ontario. Details of the water taking are as follows:

Permit type - renewal

Source CW3

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 240
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 345,600
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source CW5

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 240
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 345,600
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source CW16

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 240
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 345,600
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source L1

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 240
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 345,600
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source GW-PS

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 5,455
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 7,856,000
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd​​​​​​​): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source M4

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 265
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 381,600
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd​​​​​​​): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source M5a

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 200
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 288,000
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd​​​​​​​): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source 5R

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - drilled
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 200
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 288,000
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd​​​​​​​): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

Source Perimeter Drain

  • purpose of water taking: remediation
  • source of water: well - dug
  • maximum rate (litres per minute): 720
  • maximum number of hours of taking per day: 24
  • maximum volume (litres) per day: 1,036,800
  • maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
  • earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 01/01
  • latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd​​​​​​​): 12/31
  • period of water taking: 10 years

There are three categories of a Permit to Take Water:

  • Category one: water takings are anticipated to have a lower risk of causing an unacceptable environmental impact/interference
  • Category two: water takings are anticipated to having a higher potential of causing unacceptable environmental impact or interference
  • Category three: water takings are anticipated to have the highest potential of causing unacceptable environmental impactor interference

The proposed water taking qualifies as a Category three Permit.

Supporting materials

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

Client Services and Permissions Branch
Address

135 St Clair Ave West
1st Floor
Toronto, ON
M4V 1P5
Canada

Office phone number
416-314-8001 or 1-800-461-6290

Comment

Commenting is now closed.

This consultation was open from July 10, 2025
to August 9, 2025

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