Local water rights advocacy group Wellington Water Watchers (WWW) held their annual general meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015 at Red Papaya in downtown Guelph. A total of 43 voting members attended the not-for-profit’s AGM, which has seen its numbers grow yearly since its establishment in 2007. The majority of members ranged in age from 35 to 55 and many appeared to be familiar with each other, fostering the sense of community that has made the group so successful.
While a large portion of the meeting was filled with formal motions—such as a budget review and approval of board members —the highlight of the night was a speech from Lindsay Telfer, national project director of the Canadian Freshwater Alliance.
Telfer talked about the need for not-for-profits to run effective and directed campaigns.
“When we try to reach everyone, we reach no one,” said Telfer, referring to the effectiveness of outreach programs that are aimed at a specific target audience. “Values plus emotion equals action.”
Former federal Green Party candidate and WWW board member Mike Nagy touched briefly on the year’s previous success and on the fight ahead.
“We are in for a big haul,” said Nagy. “I want tonight of course to be about what we’ve done and to celebrate but also a rallying point for what’s ahead.”
2016 looks to be another important year for the WWW, as Nestlé is currently in the process of purchasing the Middlebrook Company well located near the Grand River in Elora. If successful in obtaining the provincial permit to take water from the local groundwater source, Nestlé would be able to increase its total water takings by 1.6 million litres per day. This would be in addition to the 4.8 million litres per day that Nestlé can currently draw from its wells in Aberfoyle and Hillsburgh.
The WWW are opposed to the well takeover. The group is fundamentally opposed to the commercial sale of bottled water and say that Nestlé would be able to potentially produce up to 12.8 million plastic water bottles for sale everyday if the new permit is granted. They also say that the well would have significant environmental impacts, as road traffic would increase, resulting in local air and noise pollution issues.
Engaged citizens are also concerned that the removal of such a large volume of water from the water table could affect local streams and riparian habitat, including that of the brown trout, which provides for some of the best fishing in southern Ontario.
However, the group may be in for an uphill battle. Research into the Ontario Environmental Registry reveals that, when the previous permit to take water—owned by the Middlebrook Water Company—on the same site was approved in 2005, little evidence was found to show the well would have any negative impacts on the environment.
Environmental assessment was carried out by third-party consultants in collaboration with the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA). The GRCA determined that “the proposed water taking presents extremely low risk to the natural environment. The potential for impacts to the Grand River, the creeks and wetlands is not significant.”
The WWW has been successful in the past, including in 2002 when they managed to reduce the water taking allowance on the original Middlebrook Company permit for the well in question.
If there’s anything that has truly contributed to the group’s success, it’s been their ability to push forward the concerns of local citizens. The 2005 Middlebrook well permit received only one public comment before it was approved by the Ministry of the Environment. After the group formed in response to the 2007 Nestlé Aberfoyle permit renewal, over 8,500 public comments were received and considered.