CENTRE WELLINGTON – After a 10-year fight, local activist group Save Our Water has completed its goal of keeping area water sources in local hands.
On June 13, Save Our Water celebrated its victory in front of the municipal office in the heart of Elora with a “Beat the Odds Picnic”.
It was attended by community members who helped make the group’s goal a reality.
In early April, Centre Wellington Township purchased 7334 Middlebrook Road, which was home to a controversial well.
“This solves it once and for all,” said Jan Beveridge, co-founder of Save Our Water.
“Once and for all we can say, this is the prize.”
In 2015, Nestle Waters Canada made a conditional offer on the Middlebrook well, and officially purchased the property in 2016.
In response, Donna McCaw and Beveridge founded Save Our Water.
They were concerned about the impacts of international water bottlers on the local water supply.
The group looked to raise awareness and pressure municipal and provincial governments into making changes.
“We protested, we had marches, we did research, we produced information and historical information, lawn signs and parades and writing letters,” said Beveridge.
“We just did so many things, and we just kept hammering away, bit by bit by bit.”
In 2017, the Ontario government placed a moratorium on new or increased water bottling permits. This lasted until April 2021.
In 2020, the province amended the Ontario Water Resources Act, giving municipalities the power to veto permits that exceeded 379,000 litres per day.
Water Protectors – Portait photographer Sophie Hogan created 234 “water protectors” signs for community members wanting to raise funds and spread Save Our Water’s message. She is holding a sign of her daughter, Shannon Hogan. Photo by Owen Starling
But the Save Our Water cause went far beyond just two concerned people.
“There were so many people involved with this, bringing all their different skills to it,” said Beveridge.
McCaw recounted a story of when Elora residents Gerald and Sue Benham came to her with $5,000 for Save Our Water.
The Benhams had hosted a backyard concert fundraiser dubbed “Bennyfest.”
One of Save Our Water’s largest movements was its “water protectors” fundraiser.
Portait photographer Sophie Hogan spent 800 hours over a year photographing community members who had paid for a custom sign to show support for the cause.
“It was strategically to engage the public, to photograph the public, to have them say and do something about what water means to them,” said Hogan.
She explained how the 234 signs became a large part of the movement. Supporters held their own signs when they walked in their parades.
Signs were displayed on lawns, in storefronts and even along the fence at Riverfest Elora.
“I cried tears of joy when I found out Centre Wellington was able to purchase the well,” said Hogan.
Nestle Waters never used the well as commercial water bottling source. Water was only taken for testing.
In May 2021, Nestle Waters Canada was taken over by BlueTriton Brands.
Last November, BlueTriton announced it was merging with Primo Water, and closing down operations in Ontario.
This gave Centre Wellington another opportunity to purchase the Middlebrook well.
McCaw told the Advertiser Save Our Water will disband, having reached its goal.