Gravel pit owners in Wilmot Township submit water-taking proposal that could allow 9.72M litres of water to be drawn per day

Some people living in Wilmot Township tell CTV’s Jeff Pickel they are concerned with an application from a gravel pit to start taking water.

The owners of a gravel pit in Wilmot Township are asking the province for a water-taking permit.

According to the application from the owners of Esbaugh Sand and Gravel Ltd., an aggregate operation on Witmer Road, want to draw water from a pond on the property for aggregate washing and dust suppression.

If approved, the permit would allow the company to take a maximum of 13,500 litres per minute, and a maximum of 9.72 million litres per day. That is roughly enough water to fill four Olympic-sized swimming pools per day.

The permit would be in effect for 10 years, and let the business draw water up to 230 times per year.

“I’m still digesting the amount,” Samantha Lernout, a resident who lives near the gravel pit, said. “It seems like an excessive amount for wash ponds. I don’t know where that number came from.”

Lernout is a member of Citizens for Safe Ground Water, a group of residents and experts who are trying to protect local water sources.

Citizens for Safe Ground Water spoke out earlier this month when the province had to step in and shut down an unlicensed snow dump at the Esbaugh’s gravel pit.

The water-taking permit has been filed with Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Despite the ongoing water capacity crisis in the Region of Waterloo, the region holds no authority over water-taking permits and can only provide comments to the province.

“This is where the region is looking to increase pumping, so it’s a perfect storm for groundwater depletion in the area. As private well owners, we are the ones left holding the bag,” Lernout said.

Lernout also has concerns about the potential environmental impact. According to the permit application, the application is a “Category 3” proposal. That designation means, “water takings are anticipated to have the highest potential of causing unacceptable environmental impactor interference.”

“This isn’t a routine permit, the ministry labels this as a category three, because it has the highest potential for environmental damage and well interference, so it’s the red alert of water taking.”

CTV News reached to Esbaugh Sand and Gravel Ltd. but did not receive a response by the time this article was published.