A constituent’s response to Nestle’s application for a Permit to take Water (PTTW) from Guelph’s aquifer:
Nestle’s PTTW application for renewal has raised many concerns with the citizens of Guelph and the surrounding area.
One of the principles of the PTTW program is the control of water taking to prevent interference with other water users. Nestle draws water from the same aquifer as the City of Guelph. The City and surrounding area are identified by the Province as a centre for population growth in the Places To Grow Act and will soon outgrow its current water supply. Guelph is growing on a daily basis, as is their water demands. The water Nestle
removes for bottling and export compromises the future supply for the City of Guelph and area. This application must be denied because drinking water supply for municipalities must take precedence over water taking by commercial bottlers.Another principle of the PTTW program is that the MOE will consider the natural functions of the ecosystem. Almost all of the water taken by Nestle leaves the Grand River watershed. Over time, this will further deplete the watertable, causing wetlands to dry up, baseflows to drop, and habitats to degrade. Please keep the water in the watershed.
It is the MOE’s responsibility to monitor, and recognize changes and stresses in natural systems as well as to act promptly to reduce unnecessary burdens. The unnecessary added stress of Nestle’s water taking on the aquifer, will only speed up the degradation of the streams and wetlands fed by this aquifer. Please reduce the burden to the watershed
before the impacts are irreversible. This water taking must be stopped to protect Guelph’s water supply, safeguard this aquifer, and to avoid further environmental damage. JAL