BRANT AGGREGATES LTD. - 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 regarded the following:

• the potential for the water taking to affect the quality of groundwater in the local aquifer
• the length of the permit term
• concern that Category 3 applications represent an unacceptably high environmental risk

In consideration of these comments, the technical information associated with this taking was reviewed, and it was determined that the risk of adverse impacts to the water resource is low. The taking is required to maintain dry working conditions as the quarry is developed below the water table, and it will proceed progressively as extraction advances. Conditions of the permit require groundwater and surface water levels to be monitored, a survey of nearby private wells to be completed prior to the commencement of dewatering, and the monitoring results to be interpreted by a qualified professional and reported to the Ministry annually.

With respect to groundwater quality, there are no known contaminated sites in the vicinity of the taking, and best management practices are in place to prevent and respond to the accidental release of petroleum products used at the site. The quality of water discharged from the site is regulated separately through an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA), which establishes and enforces treatment and effluent requirements that apply for any water released to the environment.

In determining the length of permit term and the associated permit conditions, the Ministry assesses a variety of risk factors pertaining to the surrounding environment and other users of a water resource. This assessment includes consideration of the nature of the taking, the hydrogeological setting, and the potential for impacts. The Ministry's adaptive management approach, and the associated Director authority under the Ontario Water Resources Act, ensure that permits can be reviewed and amended as required at any time, including in response to any future changes to source water protection mapping.

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.