There appears to be some confusion about what “back-up” means when it comes to a new Puslinch Township well proposed by Nestlé Waters Canada.
Councillor Don McKay said the original intention, as far as he knew, was for the proposed well on Gilmour Road to be used only when Nestlé’s main well at its Brock Road plant requires maintenance.
But a recent letter to council from hydrogeologist Stan Denhoed suggested the proposed well would be used much more than that.
“It was explained to me that this well will be regarded as a full replacement of the existing water supply with respect to their level of testing, although the intention is to use this well 50:50 with the existing well,” Denhoed said.
Councillor Matthew Bulmer said the ratio could be 50:50 or 70:30, or any other combination, depending on the maintenance schedules for the two wells.
It’s like any other mechanical equipment, noted councillor Susan Fielding; the well just can’t sit stagnant for long periods of time. She said the important thing is there will be no increase from the amount of water currently extracted at the existing well.
Nestlé Waters director of corporate affairs John Challinor told the Advertiser Fielding and Bulmer are correct.
“It is a back-up well, but it has to be used from time to time – it’s like an automobile ,” he said on Monday.
He explained it makes little sense for the company to make a multi-million dollar investment in a second well and then risk problems because it goes unused. He stressed the bottom line is there will be no increase in the amount of water extracted.
Nestlé Waters announced its proposal for a secondary well on Gilmour Road about a month ago. Township officials, including Denhoed and Mayor Brad Whitcombe have expressed concerns with the site, including the possible impact on the Aberfoyle Creek, the nearby Meadows of Aberfoyle residential area, and private homes along Gilmour Road.
Nestlé Waters officials counter the well will be deep within the aquifer, so complications for neighbours are very unlikely.
They are conducting tests from now until spring to determine if the Gilmour Road property is suitable for a well.
