Send ON politicians the message water is for life, not profit
To achieve that goal, Rubinstein and WW are asking folks – regardless of where they live – to take action and make a submission on the CTC Plan and Report before 5 pm. Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
Artist, activist and Hillsburgh land steward, Rochelle Rubinstein (Right) on Bela farm with Blue Triton’s Hillsburgh facility in the background Credit: Bela Farm website
Water is a human right. In fact, in 2010, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly recognized the human right to safe, clean drinking water and sanitation.
Water is also part of the public commons and as such is an essential resource that must be managed in a way that ensures the public benefits now and for generations to come.
The public trust doctrine (PTD) is a legal principle that gives the public access to certain natural resources and requires the protection of those natural resources. PTD is based on the idea that some resources are too important to be owned by one person because everyone has the right to access them. Water is one of these resources.
In March 2021, the Swiss multi-national food and beverage corporation, Nestlé, succumbed to pressure from groups across North American – including Guelph-based Water Watchers (WW) – and sold their water assets to One Rock Capital Partners, LLC in partnership with Metropoulos & Co for over $4 billion.
At that time the 19-year-old Nestlé Waters brand changed its name to Blue Triton Brands – a nod to the Greek god of the sea. The private equity firm’s website maintains, “[its] mission is to sustainably provide fresh water to communities throughout North America.”
Yet, Blue Triton has been taking up to 1.1 million litres of water daily from a well very close to the town of Erin. The water was bottled in plastic in a nearby Aberfoyle facility, then sold outside of the watershed and country.
Recently, Blue Triton succumbed to ongoing pressure from WW as well as other groups and activists who want a moratorium placed on all water taking by private corporations.
“We are overjoyed with the great news that BlueTriton is closing its operations in Ontario in January 2025! As we celebrate this milestone, we must remain diligent to ensure that their wells are never again used for profiteering off of precious groundwater,” Arlene Slocombe, Executive Director of Water Watchers, told Small Change via email.
Despite Blue Triton’s planned closure of its Aberfoyle bottling facility and sale of the building, the future of the corporation’s well near the Town of Erin is uncertain.
Photo credit: Water Watchers Facebook
It just so happens that the Town of Erin is in the process of actively seeking new well sources to meet current population growth targets. But new wells are extremely costly to source, dig and build.
Currently, the Credit Valley, Toronto and Region, and Central Lake Ontario (CTC) Source Protection Plan and Assessment Report suggests digging a new E9 well. However, the report also highlighted 16 possible or existing significant drinking water threats located on nine separate parcels situated within the protection area of the proposed well.
These include ten possible threats to drinking water from manure; one from a residential septic system; one from liquid fuel; four threats on rural employment lands and a possible home-based business.
The existing significant drinking water threats could require up to seven risk management plans, one septic system inspection and education, three prohibition inspections for manure, three updated prescribed instruments for non-agricultural source material and updates to the Safe Drinking Water Act Drinking Water Licence for the municipal generator.
Photo credit: Water Watchers Facebook
For artist, activist and Hillsburgh land steward, Rochelle Rubinstein, there’s a much simpler way to solve the new well issue. The Town of Erin could purchase the fully-operational Blue Triton well located in Hillsburgh — a nearby village that amalgamated with Erin and surrounding hamlets.
To achieve that goal, Rubinstein and WW are asking folks – regardless of where they live – to take action and make a submission on the CTC Plan and Report before 5 pm. Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
Simply copy and paste the message below into one email that should be sent to the following people:
1. Behnam Doulatyari, Senior Manager, Watershed Plans & Source Water Protection | Credit Valley Conservation
2. Craig Jacques, Specialist, Watershed Plans and Source Water Protection | Credit Valley Conservation, General mailbox, Credit Valley Conservation
3. Mayor Michael Dehn
4. Councillor John Brennan
5. Councillor Jamie Cheyne
6. Councillor Bridgit Ryan
7. Councillor Cathy Aylar
8. MP MIke Chong
9. MPP Ted Arnott
Sandy Shaw, NDP Critic for Environment, Conservation and Parks
Simply copy the email addresses below to the cc address box of a new email:
ctcswp@cvc.ca
craig.jacques@cvc.ca
info@cvc.ca
michael.chong@parl.gc.ca
ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Michael.Dehn@erin.ca
John.brennan@erin.ca
Jamie.cheyne@erin.ca
SShaw-QP@ndp.on.ca
Bridget.ryan@erin.ca
Cathy.aylard@erin.ca
Then, copy and paste the following message – edit as you see fit:
First Name:
Last Name:
Email address:
Subject: CTC Source Water Protection Amendments Section 34: Technical and Policy Amendments
I am concerned about the proposed E9 well which is designated to provide additional water to the Town of Erin's Water System.
There are serious concerns about the safety of the new E9 well. As seen in the May 30th, 2024 report from the Source Protection Committee Meeting (2), there are 16 possible or existing significant drinking water threats on nine discrete parcels within the protection area of this proposed well.
These include:
- ten possible significant drinking water threats that were enumerated on three agricultural properties related to manure
- one residential septic system that was enumerated as a significant drinking water threat
- one liquid fuel significant drinking water threat that was enumerated for the future municipal well generator
- four additional possible significant drinking water threats on rural employment lands, including industrial concerns and a possible home-based business
The results of the threats enumeration are documented in a Wellington Source Water Protection draft memo dated May 2024. These existing significant drinking water threats could require up to seven risk management plans – three agricultural and four DNAPL, one septic system inspection and education, three prohibition inspections for manure, three updated prescribed instruments for non-agricultural source material (if present) and updates to the Safe Drinking Water Act Drinking Water Licence for the municipal generator.
There is a better option.
Since the report recommending the E9 well was published, another water source has become available. There is a conveniently located, already dug well at the BlueTrition site in Hillsburgh (9322 Wellington Rd. 22, Hillsburgh N0B 1Z0). Since BlueTriton is closing its Ontario operations this month, the Blue Triton well should be considered as a sustainable option and the assessment should be reconsidered. This Blue Triton well boasts the following benefits according to technical studies commissioned by the Township:
1. It is located relatively close to approved development and existing municipal water supply infrastructure, with potential connection via the Station Street Dam reconstruction work expected in the near future.
2. It is in an area with adequate spacing relative to existing municipal wells and identified capture areas.
3. It is situated in an area with few private wells.
It is clear there is a better option for the future water source for Erin Township that is now available: the Blue Triton Hillsburgh well. The Town of Erin should not go to the trouble of sourcing and digging a new well when there is a perfectly good well already in existence.
I understand that tests and modelling performed during the study period on a secondary well on the Blue Triton site assumed maximum watertaking by Blue Triton. Now that Blue Triton is leaving, the viability of using this well must be reconsidered.
As Blue Triton closes their bottling operations in Hillsburgh in January 2025, there is a potential opportunity for the Town of Erin to buy the well.
The CTCSWPC and Township must do their due diligence to ensure the best water source for the public is chosen. We would all benefit if the Town of Erin assumes stewardship of the Blue Triton well.
Benefits would include:
- significant economic savings from not having to dig a new well
- reduced ecological disruption and risk from reusing an existing, viable well
- empowering the town to assume responsibility for ensuring that our water stays in our watershed – as opposed to being shipped out of the region in plastic water bottles
- enabling the town to invest in providing clean water for Erin's growing population
I understand that the current public consultation regards the proposed changes to the CTC source protection plan and assessment report. I implore you to not approve the amendment to add E9 to the municipal system. There are better options for consideration, namely the Blue Triton well.
Sincerely, “Your Name Here.”
According to Slocombe, “This is a rare, defining moment where we have the opportunity to ensure water is for life, not profit. We truly could not do this work without you. Each action we take individually and collectively brings us closer to the future we need. Together, we'll get there and protect water along the way.”
Thanks to everyone who read today’s article. With your continued support, a little Nicoll can make a lot of change.