AGGREGATE RISKS IN THE WATERLOO MORAINE

The above Regional map clearly shows Preliminary Recharge out in Wellesley

The current Draft Regional Official Planning Policy's Mineral Aggregate Resource Areas overlap the the unmarked Preliminary recharge in Wellesley. Aggregate extraction within the capture zones of the Grand River are a serious concern. The Grand is a National Heritage River which provides drinking water for the Region of Waterloo and 100% of the water supply for downstream communities.

Our Moraine provides water to over one million people.

The Waterloo Moraine exists because the sand and gravel, allow our aquifers to recharge. We cannot remove these resources without compromising this natural hydrogeological system.

 

The exclusion of Wellsley's Preliminary Recharge violates the following Policies:

PPS 2005 section 2.2.1
Planning authorities shall protect, improve or restore the quality and quantity of water by:
c) identifying surface water features, groundwater features, hydrologic functions and natural heritage features and areas which are necessary for the ecological and hydrological integrity of the watershed.

Region of Waterloo’s Water Resource Protection Strategy (WRPS)
The WRPS is designed to minimize the impact of historic, existing and future water land uses on municipal water supplies. It achieves this through the following four components:

• Identify and map sensitive areas
• Identify potential threats and sources of contamination to sensitive areas
• Develop programs and policies to protect sensitive areas from threats
• Increase awareness of water resources protection issues and what the Region is doing to address these issues to local residents.