We need the water

Dear Editor:

Like Amazon, Nestlé Waters is increasing sales during the pandemic. This accumulation of money is being centralized in large corporation coffers while small local companies struggle.

Nestlé Waters is still asking for permission to extract 1.6 million litres of water per day from the Middlebrook well.

They really do not need Wellington County water to stay viable. This water should be stewarded for local needs. Access to aquifer water for local needs will underwrite resilience as weather patterns shift and as more people move to this region.

Given that the provincial moratorium on new water permits for bottlers will only last until Oct. 1, it is important for our provincial government to step up and make this a permanent moratorium.

Nestlé Waters will take as much money and power from Wellington County as we allow. They don’t need our water. We do. Let’s not allow it.

Ralph Martin, Guelph