The approval of a water…

The approval of a water taking permit for the Shingletown gravel pit is a disaster in the making. Our farm is about 2,600 meters from this gravel pit where we have already seen the lowering of the water table since it recently began operations. We have a 1 acre pond on our property that was down about 40 - 50cm from it's normal level. We have now heard from other neighbouring property owners that their wells are running dry. Then the announcement of a water shortage was made by the Region of Waterloo and a development freeze was implemented. While this water shortage is being worked on, an application for a water taking permit at the highest risk assessment - level 3 - is applied for by the owners of the gravel pit and wanting to take an enormous amount of water that developers could only wish for at this point in time. Additionally, the owner of this pit was illegally dumping snow with contaminants that would leach into our water table that supplies a major part of the Region's water. Simply no regard for our most precious and finite resource. The word "Walkerton" comes to mind with all of this.

Water is a finite resource where there is no room for error in the supply we need, as humankind, to survive. The United Nations has recently sounded alarm bells that the entire planet is in short supply of necessary water. It seems that many people have to suffer so that the very few can profit for the sake of the almighty dollar. A sustainable alternative must be implemented here so that our water source is not at more risk than it already is. The opportunity presents itself now so that the future can be saved.