The following Resolution was passed by a large majority of the membership of the Guelph Field Naturalists at their Annual General Meeting on May 10, 2007. We are sending it to you for information, and to let you know where we stand. This Resolution has been sent to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the Environment Minister of Canada, Ontario Nature, and the editors of the Guelph Mercury and the Guelph Tribune.
Charitable Registration Number: 89155 7845 RR0001RESOLUTIONRe: EBR Registry Number 010-0224 Renewal Application of Nestle Canada’s Permit to Take Water at Aberfoyle, ON
Whereas the Guelph Field Naturalists have worked in this community for forty years “to promote the wise use and conservation of our natural resources,” and “to protect and preserve our natural flora and fauna”, we must object to Nestle Waters Canada’s application to renew and increase its water-taking permit.
In light of recent droughts in the area and increasing growth pressures, the City of Guelph has instituted watering bans to reduce the water-taking from the Paris aquifer during low recharge periods. Unfortunately, Nestle does not show a similar recognition of these pressures, and has requested an increase, allowing them to pump 4.7 million litres per day from the Galt aquifer. We simply do not know how inter-connected these aquifers are to one another, and it is unacceptable to proceed when we risk pumping dry our City’s best water source. This is not acceptable.
Nestlé’s removal of water also has the potential to impact the remaining cold water’s upwellings, which will result in a loss of fish spawning habitat in Mill Creek. This is not acceptable.
If the water is extracted at a rate faster than the recharge, it could seriously limit future recharge capacity. Again, it is questionable how independent these aquifers are, and we cannot risk losing the recharge capacity of our water resource. The cost to our City, the Province and the Federal government of replacing this water resource with (for instance) a pipeline to Lake Erie would be in the billions of dollars, and Nestle does not bear that cost. This is not acceptable.
Nestlé’s bottling the water in plastic bottles, and shipping it outside the Mill Creek watershed, further reduces the recharge rate, and severely increases the problem of disposal of the plastic waste. Waste disposal costs are borne by the general public, not by Nestle. This is not acceptable.
Therefore, be it resolved that:
The Guelph Field Naturalists urge the Ontario Ministry of the Environment to refuse Nestle Waters Canada’s application to renew and increase their water-taking permit at Aberfoyle Springs. We further urge the Federal government to view Nestlé’s actions as a typical example of corporations being allowed to grow at the expense of the general public, and demand that the Federal government create solid and enduring policy and legislation around water taking. Such legislation must incorporate a sustainable approach to the entire watershed’s ecosystem health.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Guelph Field Naturalists