Policy Statement: Trout Unlimited Canada Weighs in on Bottled Water-There has been a long-standing debate in Ontario over the rights of corporations to bottle groundwater and sell it for profit. Currently, Nestlé Waters Canada is in the process of renewing their permit to take water from their Aberfoyle well in Puslinch Ontario. Since 2001 under a set of permits renewed up to every 5 years Nestlé has been allowed to extract up to 3.6 million litres of water each day from the Puslinch well. As part of this permit renewal, Nestlé is asking for a 10-year permit at the same rate of pumping.
In Ontario Nestlé also has a permit to take water in Hillsburgh for 1.13 million litres a day and are applying to take an additional 1.6 million litres a day from the Middle Brook Water Company well in Elora that they are currently purchasing. Both of these sources are bulk packaged and shipped to the plant in Puslinch. These three permits would give them a total of 6.4 million litres a day.
Trout Unlimited Canada does not support this permit renewal and would like to see Ontario re-evaluate its policies on the extraction of public groundwater for corporate profit.
Trout Unlimited Canada’s mission is to conserve, protect and restore Canada’s freshwater ecosystems and their coldwater resources for current and future generations. We and our thousands of supporters see Canada’s groundwater resources as a vital component of a sustainable future, especially in light of climate change. Natural water storage through protection of groundwater aquifers will aid in the maintenance of river and stream flow as well as ensure an adequate supply of reliable municipal drinking water. The commodification of water puts citizens and the environment at risk. At a minimum, these permits should contain provisions that provide protections such as strong reductions in water allowances during drought and low water periods as a precautionary principle. In light of the impacts of climate change, municipal needs and base river flow needs should hold priority in order to ensure a sustainable municipal water supply and sustainable environment.
Canada is rich with abundant freshwater. Unfortunately, this allows for a low valuation of this important resource. Freshwater holds far more value than is demonstrated by permit fees ($750 to $3,000) and extraction fees ($3.71 per million litres). This low extraction fee undermines the true value of this critical resource.
Trout Unlimited Canada does not support the Government of Ontario renewing Nestlé’s permit to take water in Ontario. There is insufficient information to demonstrate whether the extraction of water during these times of drought and higher climate variability are affecting either or both of the deep and shallow aquifers in the region, both of which are critical to municipal supply and the maintenance of our local rivers, streams and wetlands. The science of groundwater and surface water interactions are complex and Trout Unlimited Canada does not see evidence that this science is being examined properly.
In this time of extreme drought, Canada’s water is more valuable than ever. Canada’s water should be protected for Canadians and Canada’s rivers and streams.
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