Water Protection



Water Protection cover image


Waterloo Region is the largest urban community in Canada dependent on groundwater for most of its municipal supply; many smaller communities in the watershed draw their supply from the Grand River. As one of the fastest-growing areas in Canada, the Grand River watershed experiences increasing pressures that threaten both the quantity and quality of our water. Conserving and protecting our water—both ground and surface—is central to GREN’s network of individuals and groups.

Issues:

· Urban sprawl, which paves over the moraines that infiltrate and store groundwater,

· Increasing numbers of operations to mine aggregate, which can pollute both groundwater and river water,

· Large water-takings from aquifers by private interests, particularly bottled water companies, which deplete local water supplies,

· Contamination from chemical spills and historic buried waste,

· Excessive stormwater run-off carrying urban and agricultural pollutants into the river,

· Road salt infiltrating the aquifers,

· Most concerning is the revival of plans to build a pipeline from Lake Erie to replace the local groundwater supply. Inevitably, abandoning local groundwater for municipal supply would mean little effort spent to protect it. With more aggressive water conservation, groundwater can supply our needs into the foreseeable future, even as the population increases.

Learn more:



Links

Nith Valley Ecoboosters


Water Watchers


Concerned Citizens of Brant









Copyright © Scott Wicken 2024