When it comes to permits to take water, it is all a matter of perspective.
For all that has been reported in the media of late, Puslinch Mayor Dennis Lever considers Nestlé Waters Canada’s water taking operation to be a drop in the bucket compared to the overall permits to take water in the township.
On Sept. 7, councillors here reviewed reports from Harden Environmental’s senior hydrologist Stan Denhoed and also heard a presentation from Nestlé Waters’ natural resource manager Andreanne Simard.
Both offered comments on Nestlé’s application to renew its permit to take water in Aberfoyle.
As of the meeting, the permit renewal had not been posted on the Environmental Registry website.
The current permit allows for the drawing of 3.6 million litres of water per day.
Simard said she wanted to make a presentation based on recent concerns raised in the area.
She stated her information related to the Aberfoyle production well and its renewal permit application, as well as any possible impacts to Aberfoyle Creek.
She stated Nestlé has over 80 monitoring locations, both onsite and offsite, that are monitored manually every month and electronically every hour, she said.
Simard noted there are several points along Aberfoyle Creek, a tributary of Mill Creek that runs through Nestlé’s Aberfoyle property, that are also monitored.
“Aberfoyle Creek is a priority for us, so we have collected a tremendous amount of data,” she said.
Monitoring includes flow measurements, water temperatures and water elevations for the creek flowing onto and exiting the site.
Simard said flow patterns have been consistent over the past 15 years.
“We haven’t seen a decline in flow as a result of pumping,” she said. “Obviously stream levels rise and fall as a result of precipitation.”
She noted a third party reviewer in 2011 had no concern with respect to the protection of the natural environment.
Simard said “Nestlé shares the same concern and commitment to protect water quality in the hamlet of Aberfoyle because this is also our spring water source.”
She stated the company has taken steps to preserve water quality such as using road salt alternatives.
“We have 300 employees … we want to maintain safety, but we also want to protect the resource,” said Simard, who provided graphs of water taking information since 2001.
She explained 2007 was the year the company extracted the most water, but levels fell off in subsequent years due to the recession.
“Now the levels are rising and we are approaching the water level taking of 2008,” she said.
Simard anticipated the water drawn in 2016 will be similar to 2015, noting that pumping is not at its maximum rate.
She stated Nestlé’s operation does not create measurable changes to Aberfoyle Creek and groundwater levels for 2016 are expected to be the same last year.
Councillor Ken Roth asked what percentage of water the company was taking – in comparison to all water permits in the township.
Simard agreed Nestlé is the largest water taker, but noted there are several large nearby permits.
Councillor Matthew Bulmer stated that in 2000 Nestlé’s water taking represent about 8%, however there are now municipal wells taking up to seven million litres per day.
“When I look at the list of water takers now … I find it hard to imagine you’ve sprung to the top of the list.”
Simard clarified she was referring to being high on the list of water takers in the immediate Aberfoyle area.
Mayor Dennis Lever, citing information garnered through work at the University of Guelph, stated on average 30% of the country relies on groundwater for drinking water – but in Puslinch, that number is 100%.
“My concern is that this is a shared resource … whether it is the deep aquifer or the more shallow one … eventually there is some connection.”
However, Lever said he strongly believes the issue needs to be put into perspective.
“As of Aug. 1, 2016, there are 106 active permits to take water in Puslinch including Nestlé,” he said, adding up to 542 million litres per day.
“At 3.6 million litres, Nestlé is the largest taker in the Aberfoyle area, but the city of Guelph draws 282 million litres per day.
“While I have heard a lot out of the city of Guelph and some of its residents … according to their own water supply master plan, they lose 5.5 million litres per day through leaks.”
Lever said he does have concerns but it is the MOECC’s duty to decide on any potential impact to various aquifers.
“Quite frankly, I’d like to see Guelph compensate Puslinch for protecting its wellhead area,” said Lever.
Denhoed presentation
In his presentation to council, Denhoed reiterated comments from his report on Nestlé’s pumping and review of its application to renew its permit to take water.
Denhoed’s main conclusions are that Nestlé’s water taking:
– has diminished groundwater discharge to Aberfoyle Creek and increased water taking will further decrease the discharge;
– could indirectly affect private well water quality; and
– may degrade water quality of the Goat Island and Gasport aquifers.
Denhoed agreed, changes to water quality or quantity are not a result of only Nestlé’s water taking.
He addd there are several large residential and commercial users of water in the immediate Aberfoyle area.
Roth asked why the MOECC would not consider all the water taking as a whole – “or how do we convince them they should?”
Denhoed suggest the same thing in his 2011 report. He noted aspects of that are happening now in the Tier 3 water study being undertaken by Guelph.
That study is mainly intended to protect the city’s water supply, “But the knowledge we gain from it is fabulous.”
Denhoed said “they are finding the area of influence for the city of Guelph’s water taking extends south of the 401.”
He stressed, “we’re in this together.”
Denhoed compared it to everyone sticking straws into the deeper aquifer to take water out.
“The question which needs to be asked is whether or not it is sustainable.”
Bulmer believed it was valuable to put Nestlé’s water taking into context. Based on the numbers presented by Lever, Bulmer suggested that perhaps this is an issue the city should be helping with.
However, the one question Bulmer wants asked is whether this is groundwater mining. He said that in a mine the rock is removed and it is never coming back.
With groundwater … it means a very long period before the water recharges.
Denhoed said that is the situation faced in the American midwest.
However, Denhoed stressed Ontario (and Aberfoyle) is an entirely different situation.
“I am not thinking we are in the mining situation where it will take years or decades to recover,” said Denhoed.
“My guess would not be years … but weeks or months to fully recover the aquifer.”
