NESTLE LOSES GUELPH AREA WATER FIGHT

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story "Nestle accepts restrictions on water supply". At the same time Ecojustice out of Toronto also put out a media release praising the Wellington Water Watchers and the Council of Canadians for their fight to keep water extraction restrictions on Nestle during periods of drought.

Nestle cut a deal with the Ontario M.O.E. to remove restrictions on their pumping of groundwater in Hillsburgh, Ontario. These restrictions had originally been incorporated into their Permit to take Water and they had appealed to the provincial Environmental Review Tribunal. After the deal was struck however the Wellington Water Watchers, Council for Canadians and Ecojustice all went to the ERT and appealed the deal between Nestle and the M.O.E. as not being in the public interest. The ERT agreed and ordered a full hearing upon which Nestle then withdrew their original appeal.

The final result is that Nestle who currently pump in excess of a million litres of groundwater a day from Hillsburgh are now subject to pumping cutbacks during drought periods. It is basic hydrogeology 101 that dry spells and droughts while immediately affecting shallow aquifers also stop the recharging effect of these shallower aquifers to the deeper municipal aquifers. Just as all Waterloo Region are under water restrictions during the drier summer months to maintain essential water supplies for all citizens; it too is appropriate for corporations to share the pain.