Local non-profit group releases Wilmot Township candidate survey on water issues

By Lee Griffi

Citizens for Safe Ground Water (CSGW) wants to make sure groundwater protection and well interference are election topics on Oct. 26 in Wilmot Township.

The organization has released a briefing after asking all municipal candidates a set of standardized questions. Each entry highlights verbatim quotes addressing rural water security, well interference oversight, and proactive groundwater management.

“We wanted to make sure this survey was not just looking for checkboxes. When we had done a survey back in 2018 for candidates, we did that,” explained CSGW President Samantha Lernout. “This year we wanted to do something that wasn’t just fluff and would allow candidates to actually think about it and come up with some thoughtful, actionable answers we can hold them to.”

She added the group was very impressed with the answers they received and the response rate.

“Virtually all candidates responded and were incredibly thoughtful with a lot of great ideas. I had some time to meet some of them and I am quite impressed with the work they are putting in to learn about Wilmot and the history of water issues with municipal water taking and general concerns as we grow.”

The Region of Waterloo has recently made some changes to its water interference process, shifting the burden of proof off residents and onto the region. Lernout admitted it is a big step forward but a conflict of interest remains.

“The region has reinstated the well interference committee, and they’ve changed the way they respond interference claims, but they still hire the same engineering firm that modelled those well fields to evaluate private well claims.”

She added the biggest remaining issue is allowing Stantec to examine its own work.

“Essentially, they are letting the contractors audit their own hydrogeological models. It’s like allowing student grade their own exam. That’s a conflict of interest. The region is saying it is trying to procure a new consultant but that won’t be done until January. It’s a real issue.”

Lernout said aside from the technical detail controversy, CSGW wants to ensure the region isn’t relying on what she called distant desktop models, but instead they need physical wellhead testing.

“We need public, real-time data portals to be able to see the monitoring data live in a way a layperson can understand. We need hard, operational trigger levels and the region to respect historic lows and consider them as operational trigger levels where they allow the aquifer to recharge which they have not been doing.”

She added the final ask from the group is to implement mandatory baseline testing before water pumping rates in Wilmot are increased.

“What would have been wise for the region to do before they started experimental testing in 2018 would have been to get baseline tests of the local wells which is what they had done in the past. They would do their homework so they knew what the situation was before the increased pumping.”

CSGW is not endorsing any candidates but are doing what they call evaluating actions against technical realities.

“For example, Mayor (Natasha) Salonen’s motion to pause new pumping until water supplies return is an important upper tier safeguard. Stephanie Goertz focused on focused on local official plan amendments targeting lower-tier land use authorities is also a great idea. Both tiers must act but groundwater management isn’t about political promises. It requires enforceable pumping limits and baseline testing before drill rigs ever turn on.”    

She added leaders at the township and regional levels need to act proactively to stop water loss before taps run dry, rather than relying on computer models to explain the damage after its done.

“A policy is only as strong as its enforcement.”

Despite how slowly change has come to the water file in the township Lernout said she and her group remain hopeful or more positive change, particular when new Region of Waterloo and Wilmot Township councils begin sitting in the fall.

“We're actually seeing real momentum. A couple years ago water was barely on the radar, and now almost every single candidate is giving us clear commitments in writing. We aren't just hoping for change after election day; we've established the paper trail to hold whoever wins accountable.”

A summary of responses from candidates can be found at   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gsPPn8USH2FNXzT_VeCzZ96nshWvSGXP/view?usp=drivesdk and the full version at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wvtXTIZNVhSI7Vpry1M_wNmwGIPAtBv-/view?usp=drivesdk.

CSGW is also recommending Wilmot residents watch a video of a conversation on Radio Waterloo (CKMS-FM 102.7) on the water issue with host Bob Jonkman ("Meet The Candidate"), and his guests Dr. Hugh Simpson and Bob Burtt. The entire broadcast is available at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zu0vUXH4oeg, beginning just under 34 minutes in.