Kitchener-Waterloo NDP

At a membership meeting on January 4, the KW New Democrats adopted the following resolution to be presented to the Ontario NDP Convention in March, 2009.

PROPOSED WATER PIPELINE TO GREAT LAKES

Taking water from the Great lakes is not a sustainable use of this water, there will be serious negative effects on the water levels that will impact shipping and recreational uses in the Great Lakes.

Be it resolved that The New Democratic Party of Ontario express its disapproval of the proposal by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo to construct a water pipeline from one of the Great Lakes; and that the ONDP caucus take the necessary steps to present a resolution or ‘bill’ in the Ontario Legislative Assembly to have the Province of Ontario reject this unnecessary, costly proposal for a water pipeline.

Background

In 2000, the Region of Waterloo Council approved a Water Supply Strategy that included the implementation of a Great Lakes Pipeline by 2035 due to projected increased demand and population by 2041.

In 2007, the proposal was amended to build a pipeline in 2034.

According to the Region’s website:

"Twenty-eight pipeline alternatives were identified and analyzed in the LTWS to three of the Great Lakes (Lakes Ontario, Huron, and Erie) and Georgian Bay. Alternatives were evaluated in details to address potential environmental impacts, capital and operating costs, water quality of the sources, potential cost sharing with other municipalities, sustainability, reliability and flexibility.

The two preferred pipeline options were the ones to Lake Huron and Lake Erie. The public preferred the Lake Huron option given the perception that the water quality in this lake is better than that of Lake Erie. However, from a treated water perspective, both water sources would be equally acceptable. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has shown preference for the Lake Erie option as the water taken from Lake Erie would return to Lake Erie through treated sewage disposal in to the Grand River.

The estimated total capital of either option would be approximately $500 million dollars with implementation expected by the year 2035. Waterloo Regional Council Report E-00-027.1 approved May 10, 2000."

The citizens of Waterloo Region were asked for their preference of a pipeline through public information sessions. They have never been asked to vote on a proposal to spend an estimated half billion dollars on such an enormous and costly public (or private) scheme.

The continued population growth in the Region is unsustainable with naturally occurring rainfall and water stored in aquifers despite numerous efforts to conserve and restrict water use over the past two decades.

At some time in the next few years, the growth in population must be capped.

Studies by the Great Lakes Commission (a Canada-USA public body) have shown that water levels over the past 20 years have dropped, and recent increases in precipitation have not returned the lakes to their normal levels. Lake Superior remains well below its long-term average. Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and St. Clair remain 5-7 inches below last year's levels, while Lake Ontario is 13 inches lower; all are expected to remain below last year's levels. These levels are well below both the monthly mean levels and the long term annual average. Historical data beginning in 1918 show that The Great Lakes experience variable levels of water on inconsistent cycles.

The Historic Great Lakes Water Level Data (1918-2007) Study by the US Army Corps of Engineers has this to say:

The Great Lakes Commission has an explicit mandate to address issues associated with diversion, consumptive use and other aspects of water quantity management. Article VI of the Great Lakes Basin Compact mandates the Commission to collect and analyze data (Par. A); recommend methods to ensure informed use and management (Par. B); and recommend laws, ordinances and regulations as they relate to diversions from and into the Basin (Par. H).

The Great Lakes Commission maintains a formal policy position on water levels, flows and diversions, and its member states have adopted numerous resolutions and policy statements that voice opposition to harmful, out-of-Basin diversions and need for full and open binational consultation.