As a resident of Waterloo…

As a resident of Waterloo Region I am extremely concerned about the large number of water taking permit applications being made to the Province by developers and industrial operators in the Region.

As the attached news release by Environmental Defence indicates:

1. The Mannheim Service Area (most of Kitchener, Waterloo, Woolwich, Wilmot, and parts of Cambridge) cannot safely and sustainably meet water demand for existing residents.

2. Esbaugh Sand and Gravel LTD is requesting a new Permit To Take Water for aggregate washing purposes in Wilmot Township (ERO 026-0124). This permit could allow 9.72 million litres of water to be drawn daily. That is about enough water to fill four Olympic-sized swimming pools per day.

3. This man-made water crisis is the result of numerous, irresponsible provincial policy changes. From fast-tracking sprawl development to blindly approving over 100 water-taking permits over the last five years in Waterloo Region, the provincial government has failed to protect residents’ freshwater security. Now, the region is left to clean up the mess.

4. The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) must deny Esbaugh Sand & Gravel LTD’s current application to take water in Wilmot Township and immediately put a moratorium on all new or expanded industrial and commercial water-taking permits in the region. The province has a responsibility to protect freshwater, and until a plan of action is established and effectively executed, it needs to put the brakes on runaway water-taking.

5. Ontario’s water sources, like groundwater aquifers, need to be prioritized for communities, farms and ecosystems, not industrial or commercial use.

I fully support Environmental Defence's assessment of the water supply crisis in Waterloo Region and urge MECP to deny Esbaugh Sand and Gravel LTD's application.