Nestlé Waters Middlebrook Elora Proposal- OPEN LETTER OF AWARENESS TO SURROUNDING CITIZENS
Recently my spouse and I attended a meeting (Aboyne Hall Dec. 1st) directly relating to the Nestlé proposal to conduct a short-term pumping test- EBR Registry Number:012-4935, over a period of up to two (2) years from the Middlebrook well. We live a short distance away from this site and as VERY concerned citizens of this town, of which we value and treasure, we find this PTTW ( permit to take water) disturbing, to say the least.
Although it is a short-term permit, as per Nestlé’s official website they state the following: “Nestlé Waters Canada is currently evaluating the Middlebrook Water Co. spring water source for potential acquisition as a supplementary well to its main production well in Aberfoyle. The evaluation relates to confirmation that the groundwater onsite meets its quality and quantity requirements and, further, that a new permit to take water will be issued to Nestlé Waters Canada by Ontario Ministry of Environment. The current permit allows the current owner to draw 300 gallons of water per minute. Nestlé Waters does not anticipate that it will require a permit allowing a draw that is more than 300 GPM.”
Details of the proposed water taking are as follows: (excerpted from Environmental Registry 012-4935)
• Current Source of water: Middlebrook Well (MOECC Well ID 670491)
• Purpose of Water Taking: Pumping Test
• Maximum rate of taking per minute (litres): 3,150
• Maximum number of hours of taking in a day: 24 hours
• Maximum volume of taking per day (Litres): 1,637,000
• Maximum number of days of taking per year: 60 days over a two year period
Excerpted from wellingtonwaterwatchers.ca : If Nestlé’s permit is approved for 1.6 million litres of water per day, the corporation will pay $3.71 per million litres (or $5.93 per day). 100% of the water captured under this permit would be removed at the source and also be trucked 24/7 to Aberfoyle. A 100% consumptive permit is a permit where every drop of water that is pumped, or in this case captured as this is upwelling artesian water, is removed from the local watershed and never returned.
Excerpted from Hamilton Spectator Aug 7 2015 :” Donna McCaw is a member of the group Friends of Elora Water, and they are opposed to Nestle’s expansion plans. She said that Elora falls under provincial Places to Grow legislation and the village is expected to grow to a small city in the next 20 years. She said the municipality currently uses 1.7 million litres of water a day for its citizens and Nestlé is proposing to take 1.6 million litres a day.”
The current permit for Aberfoyle is up for renewal in 2016 (per Nestlé official website). If that doesn’t scare you, consider this recent headline regarding the State of California: “Nestlé Continues Stealing World’s Water During Drought: Nestlé is draining California aquifers, from Sacramento alone taking 80 million gallons annually. Nestlé then sells the people’s water back to them at great profit under many dozen brand names.” By Dan Bacher for IndyMedia | March 20, 2015”
If the Nestlé Middlebrook permit is approved, we must be ready to voice our concerns via the Appeal process, which is time sensitive. As citizens of this cherished town, we are urging everyone, including Municipal Council, to band together and unite. We need to protect our village and its’ natural resources now, before it’s too late!
Please bookmark the EBR file# mentioned above at http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca to monitor the proceedings.
We can all do our part to safeguard the future of our region.
Rick & Paula Shafer, Elora, ON
Rick & Paula Shafer