Capital Paving Inc. - Permit to take water

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 on groundwater quality and quantity
• potential interference with neighboring wells
• concerns about impacting the environment, particularly the local watershed and Hopewell Creek
• accountability for impacts to water supply or contaminated or compromised wells

All comments related to water resource impacts have been carefully reviewed and considered as part of the technical review. The following points contributed to the Ministry’s decision to issue the Permit:

• The Permit authorizes water to be taken from a dugout “source pond” for aggregate washing in a closed loop system where the majority of the water is recirculated. After water is used to wash the aggregate, it is discharged to a settling pond where fine grained material is removed, before flowing back to the source pond. Some water is lost in the washing process and to evaporation, but the majority (greater than 90%) is returned to the wash pond and groundwater system to be reused. Water takings from other sources (e.g., groundwater wells) are not authorized by this Permit.
• The aggregate washing process does not use chemicals; silt and clay-sized particles are separated from the aggregate and settle in the pond. No water is discharged or leaves the site as runoff. Changes to groundwater quality are not anticipated. Furthermore, the Permit includes a condition requiring groundwater quality monitoring of on-site wells surrounding the taking to identify any potential water quality impacts. Additionally, operation of the aggregate washing facility will require an Environmental Compliance Approval issued by the Ministry.
• The drawdown from the water taking is expected to be small and limited to the site boundary and thus impacts to surrounding private wells and/or surface water are unlikely. Additionally, the Permit includes conditions requiring the Permit Holder to monitor groundwater levels and surface water levels in Hopewell Creek and a nearby pond to identify any potential water quantity impacts. Groundwater monitoring will include wells on the property and private neighboring wells identified through private well surveys.
• The Permit requires the Permit Holder to submit a report to the Ministry prepared by a Qualified Person following three years of pumping on the site that interprets all pumping and monitoring data, evaluates long-term trends and assesses any impacts. A similar report will also be required to support any request to amend or renew this Permit. The Permit has been issued for a period of 5 years as opposed to the requested 10 years in order to evaluate the taking at an earlier date.

The Permit includes a condition that, if the water taking is observed to cause any negative impact to other water supplies, requires the Permit Holder to make available an equivalent supply of water or compensate those affected for the costs to do so. A Well Interference Complaint Procedure has been established to facilitate action by the Permit Holder in the event of a well interference complaint.