Water activists and quarry oppositionists came together in Rockwood to share how their concerns intersect when it comes to a partially-approved aggregate operation just outside of the town.
The Wellington Water Watchers’ (WWW) Ear to the Groundwater tour, led by Guelph musician and activist Shane Philips, has entered a second phase.
In June, Philips walked to wells and properties in Wellington County owned by BlueTriton brands in opposition of their application for a water taking permit.
Now, WWW has its sights set on the impact gravel pits may have on water sources.
Philips said in an interview this phase of the walk has brought him a deeper understanding of other water issues.
“The picture is becoming very clear, which is that these sites digging underneath the groundwater table endangers our water supply,” Philips said.
On Wednesday the walk ended in Rockwood, where the Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) for years have been fighting against the 61.5 acre Hidden Quarry which has interim LPAT approval.
Philips said the day started in Acton at a gravel pit that is five times the size of the Hidden Quarry but is temporarily unused.
A printed statement by the CRC given to EloraFergusToday questioned why that site remains closed while a new community is impacted.
“It appears the demand for gravel in the market is not enough to keep one of Ontario’s largest quarries open while about 10 km away a new quarry in Rockwood has gained interim approval,” the statement reads.
“This only makes sense when we realize that it is all about the competitive positions and bottom lines of the aggregate companies, not the need for new supply in the marketplace.”
Doug Tripp, president of CRC, spoke at the site of Rockwood’s newest municipal well which he noted was a short distance from the Hidden Quarry.
Tripp explained hydrogeological mapping of the area shows two aquifers, with one supplying the well and the other flowing to the quarry site.
He said the hydrogeologist CRC hired said there is a possibility, but not a certainty, for cross contamination from the open pond that would be at the quarry site.
In contrast, Tripp said the hydrogeologist representing the quarry proponent James Dick Construction Ltd. said this would not happen.
He described the approval by the LPAT court as rolling the dice with local residents and questioned how much risk is tolerable.
“There’s no good answer to that, when it comes to the public water system you think the risk better be bloody low because the consequences can be catastrophic,” Tripp said in an interview before his remarks.
“That’s why we ended up here because this represents a risk to the Guelph/Eramosa township and Rockwood community.”
Tripp noted the quarry was given a long list of conditions to meet before it gets full approval and isn’t a done deal.
Tripp read a statement from township mayor Chris White who reiterated the local council opposed the quarry and stressed the township takes the responsibility for municipal water systems very seriously.
“If provincial bodies like the LPAT are going to continue to approve applications that pose a potential risk to our water, the province must provide the resources to make certain that conditions imposed by the provincial LPAT are met,” White’s statement said.
“Our residents should expect nothing less. If these expectations cannot be met, these applications should not be approved.”
The second phase of the Ear to Groundwater Walk will have further stops in Guelph/Eramosa, Puslinch and Guelph in the coming days.
