Water rights group makes waves

As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Save Our Water formed in 2015 and has steamrolled its way from non-existence to a force of nature in its fight against Nestlé Waters’ application at the former Middlebrook well in Elora. It is due to its efforts that water taking is a hot topic for the provincial government.

Ontario’s two-year moratorium on new and expanded water taking operations that officially took effect on Dec. 16 is a huge victory for Save Our Water. The group asked in August 2015 for a moratorium to develop a master plan for Centre Wellington’s use of the aquifer.

Let’s spell that out: a small group in Elora has affected change in government. Wow.

Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Glen Murray’s words echoed what Save Our Water has been saying since the beginning.

“We need to ensure water is protected for future generations,” Murray said.

The fight over groundwater in Elora has received national attention, including shout outs from Canadian author Margaret Atwood and Council of Canadians chair and activist Maude Barlow.

Centre Wellington has become an ally to the group, even though it does not decide on Nestle’s proposal/permit. Township officials met twice with the ministry to express concern over water taking and, in August, tried to buy the well to keep the water supply “safe” from commercial water taking long into the future.

Yes, the township could have purchased the well years ago, but this council, which supported a two-year moratorium, just came into power (with a new mayor) in 2014. It has taken action.

Council listened to concerns of constituents, who have shown they won’t back down from this fight.

– Olivia

VS.

Dilly-dally, then damage control

Citizens and advocacy groups alike should be congratulated for their impassioned efforts to oppose the Nestlé Waters proposal for the Middlebrook well near Elora.

In contrast, the efforts by Centre Wellington Township officials seem disingenuous.

Municipal representatives have repeatedly patted themselves on the back since announcing in August the township made the competing offer that prompted Nestlé Waters to purchase the Middlebrook well property.

Nestlé, which had a conditional offer on the land for 18 months, activated a clause to proceed with the purchase once the township’s offer was made.

In a press release Mayor Kelly Linton stated the township made the offer to “guarantee that commercial water taking from this site would not impact our water supply.” Linton later referred to the offer to purchase property as “real action … which got the attention of the national press” (ironically, this newspaper was perhaps the only one to all get the facts straight).

But this “real action” was too little too late. A cynic might suggest it was nothing more than a public relations manoeuvre to save face and quell strong public criticism following years of dithering on the matter.

The Middlebrook property was for sale for the better part of a decade with no action from the township (all but two of the current councillors have served multiple terms). We recall at least one former staff member suggesting years ago that the township should purchase the property, but to no avail. Plus, municipal officials had to know Nestlé already had a conditional offer on the well site.

But they had nothing to lose (literally) and the offer managed to convince some people the township tried everything to “protect our water for future generations.”

So maybe the township’s move was a success after all – if only from a PR perspective.

– Chris