Walker Aggregates Inc. - Permit to take water

Comments relevant to the proposed water taking were considered as part of the Ministry’s review of the application. The main concerns raised related to the following:

• potential impacts of the water taking on nearby private wells and surface water features
• potential for effects on groundwater or surface water quality due to wash-plant operations
• concern that Category 3 applications represent an unacceptably high environmental risk
• requests to review the permitted taking volume and ensure that appropriate monitoring and contingency measures are in place

A number of the comments concerning issues such as air and dust emissions, land use compatibility, site operations not pertaining directly to water taking, and economic impacts related to the operation of the gravel pit were deemed outside the regulatory scope of this application.

The daily maximum volume proposed was reduced from the original proposal of 7,920,000 litres per day and 365 days per year to 3,960,000 litres per day and 275 days per year (12 hours per day). These volumes align with the proponent's current site plans as licensed under the Aggregate Resources Act.

Ministry technical staff have determined that any drawdown in the wash ponds will be minimal and limited to the site boundaries, with full groundwater recovery expected during non-operating hours. Given the separation distances from neighbouring wells and the nature of the operation, the risk of interference with nearby private wells or surface-water features is considered to be low.

Ministry staff have further determined that no impacts to groundwater or surface water quality are anticipated. The source and settling ponds are located within the existing sand and gravel deposit from which the aggregate is extracted; no off-site discharge is proposed and fine sediments will settle within the ponds. The material to be washed is the same that comprises the existing sand and gravel aquifer, and therefore operation of a wash plant does not itself introduce any contaminants nor does it pose a risk to groundwater quality.

Regarding the Category 3 classification, Category 3 applications cover a broad range of risk levels. The Category 3 designation in itself should not be interpreted to indicate that a particular proposal poses an unacceptable risk to the environment, rather it simply indicates that the proposed activity did not meet eligibility requirements for Category 1 or 2 proposals and, as such, requires a supporting technical study to be submitted and reviewed by ministry staff.

Ministry staff have determined that the potential impacts of this water taking are low, and have introduced monitoring and reporting conditions into the permit to ensure that any observed drawdown is identified such that environmental effects can be mitigated. These permit conditions will allow for ongoing monitoring and adaptive management of the water taking as necessary.