Wellington County councillors heard on Jan. 28 that the Rural Water Quality Program (RWQP) being run by the Grand River Conservation Authority is for all rural county residents.
Council was considering a planning committee recommendation that, subject to budget approval, an additional $50,000 for the RWQP be used equally to develop a shallow well improvement program and well decommissioning program for rural non-farmers and a program to support groups willing to take on environmental improvement projects.
Councillor Rod Finnie asked if it would be possible to get a report on the expenditure trends of the program, to determine the value for the money spent.
“I hear, generally, it’s a good program,” he said.
But, he pointed out, the program is run through the Grand River Conservation Authority.
The GRCA started it over 10 years ago with the Region of Waterloo. Wellington County joined in the second year.
But Finnie said Wellington County runs beyond the Grand River watershed to include the Saugeen, Maitland, Hamilton and Credit Valley watersheds, and he said if the program is expanded, it should be done for the whole county not just one part of it.
He said Credit Valley Conservation covers Peel Region, and “Erin really doesn’t get the benefit of the service.”
Planning committee chairman Walter Trachsel said the $50,000 is for a five-year program.
County planner Gary Cousins pointed out that to date the county has spent about $2.5-million and the resulting work has been worth over $10-million. Farmers are able to access grants for doing work that will improve water courses.
Even cities, such as Guelph, have contributed to the program because healthy rural water means healthy urban water. He said since the program began there has been a noticeable improvement in the quality of water in the Grand River.
He told Finnie, the program is already county wide and anyone in Wellington can apply to it. He said people in Erin might not have been taking as much advantage as other places because there simply are not as many farmers there as in more active municipalities.
“The GRCA is simply the delivery agent,” Cousins explained.
Councillor Barb McKay said she is concerned that the program is being split into more pieces. She said she would like to see more rural non-farmers become involved with it, rather than environmental groups.
“Non-farmers could be doing the work,” she said, noting, “Environmental groups will always be there.”
Council later voted on the planning minutes and approved the money, pending budget talks.
