R. W. TOMLINSON LIMITED - Permit to take water

Comments relevant to the water taking proposal were considered as part of the review of the application. These comments were received under ERO proposal 026-0257, which pertained to the water taking for R.W. Tomlinson's Loyalist Quarry for dewatering, under Application Ref. No. 1000473260.

The main concerns raised were regarding the following:

• the volume and purpose of the taking
• the destination of the pumped water and potential loss of water from the watershed
• effects of long-term dewatering on groundwater, private wells and surface water
• cumulative impacts with other water takings
• the Category 3 classification
• monitoring and reporting conditions
• the length of the permit term

In consideration of these comments, the technical information associated with this taking was reviewed, and it was determined that the risk to groundwater, surface water and other water users is low. The quarry is excavated in dense limestone that yields little water, so most of what collects in the sump comes from precipitation and runoff. The taking is not expected to affect private wells in the area, and the potential for cumulative impacts was determined to be low.

Dewatering keeps the quarry floor safe and dry as extraction progresses. The collected water is treated in sewage works authorized under an Environmental Compliance Approval and then returned to Wilton Creek, so the taking causes no net loss from the watershed or the Lake Ontario basin. Pumping typically peaks after rainfall and during spring snowmelt, and the permitted maximum is not expected to be reached every day.

Regarding the Category 3 classification, Category 3 applications cover a broad range of risk levels. The Category 3 designation in itself should not be interpreted to indicate that a particular proposal poses an unacceptable risk to the environment, rather it simply indicates that the proposed activity did not meet eligibility requirements for Category 1 or 2 proposals and, as such, requires a supporting technical study to be submitted and reviewed by ministry staff.

Testing and observations at the site have shown no effect on Wilton Creek and minimal change in groundwater near the quarry. Monitoring and reporting conditions have been included in the permit to ensure that local water levels continue to be tracked on an ongoing basis.

In determining the length of permit term and the associated permit conditions, the Ministry assesses a variety of risk factors pertaining to the surrounding environment and other users of a water resource. This assessment includes consideration of the nature of the taking, the hydrogeological setting, and the potential for impacts. The Ministry’s adaptive management approach, and the associated Director authority under the Ontario Water Resources Act, ensure that permits can be reviewed and amended as required at any time.

Through its review of the application, supporting technical information, and consideration of comments received, Ministry staff are satisfied that the permit, as issued, is protective of the water resource and surrounding water users.