[Canada] Nestlé one step closer to securing secondary well

Posted August 17, 2007 in [Water]

Thana Dharmarajah, August 2, 2007, Guelph Mercury - Nestlé Waters Canada expects to move into the second phase of securing a secondary well on Victoria Road within a month.

A company representative, Wayne Caston, was at a Puslinch Township council meeting yesterday to give councillors an update on the water bottler's progress as they plan on expanding their current facility in Aberfoyle.

In addition to testing a second well on Victoria Road as a back-up, Nestlé is also applying for zoning approval to build 119,000 square feet of new warehouse space so they won't need to truck pallets of bottled water to rented space in Hamilton.

A package detailing the second phase was handed out to council. It says Nestlé plans to consult with neighbours with regards to testing and monitoring their wells. There will also be monitoring to assess the effect of taking water on the surface-water system, groundwater system and aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

The third and final phase includes the completion of an environmental study required under the Ontario Water Resources Act.

Nestlé expects to take water from both the wells, but doesn't plan on exceeding the current permit, which allows it to access 2,500 litres of water per minute.

The Ministry of Environment has given Nestlé an extension of their permit to take water until Dec. 31.

The permit expired in June.

Nestlé has applied for a renewal to continue drawing 3.6 million litres of water per day for the next five years.

Council was also updated on a move by Nestlé to widen Brock Road and build left turn lanes onto Nestlé's driveway and Gilmour Road.

Wellington County has approved the design work for the lanes and construction is expected to begin this month.

At the meeting Caston didn't commit to helping finance a traffic light, if it's needed at the intersection.

Following the meeting, Mayor Brad Whitcombe said in a few years there may be increased traffic flow within that area as a result of Nestlé's operations and that's why council made the request for the company to assist financially with the installation of a traffic light.

Council has yet to approve a zoning bylaw to recognize the actual use of the Nestlé property as a bottling facility, which is currently zoned as a fish farm.

Councillor Matthew Bulmer requested an amendment to the bylaw to recognize that Nestlé will manufacture bottles on site.

"The public has a right to know that it's a use we're permitting," he said.

Nestlé anticipates providing monthly updates to council and regular updates to the local community through newsletters and open houses.

tdharmarajah@guelphmercury.com