This proposal represents an…

This proposal represents an extremely high risk water taking and should NOT be approved. A Category 3 permit is reserved for water takings with the highest potential to cause unacceptable environmental impacts or interference. In Waterloo Region, where groundwater supplies are already under sustained pressure from rapid population growth, climate variability, unsustainable permitting, and a dropping water table, approving a long term industrial withdrawal of this magnitude is irresponsible. Even if sourced from a pond, such takings can directly and indirectly affect groundwater recharge, nearby wetlands, private wells, stream baseflow, and aquatic ecosystems. In a region that relies heavily on groundwater for municipal drinking water, precaution, not expansion of high volume extraction, should guide decision making.

Granting this permit would prioritize aggregate processing over long term water security, ecosystem health, and community resilience.