The Region of Waterloo is 80…

The Region of Waterloo is 80% dependent on groundwater, and we are currently facing a water‑supply capacity crisis. Kitchener–Waterloo and parts of Cambridge are under a development pause because there is not enough water to support growth. The Region is actively searching for new, sustainable groundwater sources, and Wilmot Township has been identified as an area with significant potential.

This proposed gravel pit sits directly on the same aquifer the Region is evaluating for future municipal supply. The Region has indicated that this aquifer could provide approximately 30 L/s of new capacity—an essential contribution to solving the current water shortage. In contrast, the gravel pit would result in a permanent loss of 2.115 L/s each year, at a time when every litre of groundwater matters.

There is also the idea that this area could be a potential area for a new municipal well.

The long‑term public value of protecting a future drinking‑water source far outweighs the short‑term benefit of aggregate extraction. Once the protective layers of the aquifer are removed, the hydrogeologic impacts are irreversible.

It is also important to note that this property has previously been used for unauthorized snow dumping. Road snow contains salt, hydrocarbons, and other contaminants, and depositing it on a sensitive recharge area demonstrates a concerning disregard for environmental protection and permitted land uses. Given the high‑risk nature of operating a gravel pit directly above a municipal aquifer, this compliance history raises legitimate questions about whether the operator can reliably meet the strict groundwater‑protection requirements such a site demands.

Approving this pit would jeopardize a critical future water source at the exact moment the Region is struggling to secure enough groundwater for its residents. Protecting the aquifer must take priority.