Waterloo Region moves toward independent appeals committee for private well complaints

A jar filled with water and sediment was photographed in this undated image. (Courtesy: Citizens for Safe Ground Water)

Waterloo Region is one step closer to bringing back an independent appeals committee for residents dealing with private well problems in Wilmot Township.

Regional councillors voted unanimously on Wednesday to have staff explore re-establishing a well interference appeals committee, similar to one used before 2015.

The move comes after residents complained that they are experiencing low water pressure, sediment-filled water and, in some cases, wells running dry.

During the meeting, Citizens for Safe Groundwater co-founder Samantha Lernout held up a jar of discoloured water while speaking to councillors.

“This is water that came out of my water heater,” she said.

Residents said the problems have become more common amid Waterloo Region’s ongoing water capacity challenges and increased municipal pumping in Wilmot.

“We have local families who have lost water for weeks in the dead of winter,” Lernout said in an interview with CTV News. “People are taking their laundry into the city. They’re showering at community centres.”

Wilmot Township Mayor Natasha Salonen said some residents are being forced to ration water use inside their own homes.

“For example, washing a load of laundry or having a shower because they aren’t certain that there’s going to be enough water in there,” Salonen said.

Concerns are centred around municipal pumping wells in Wilmot, where residents believe increased water-taking may be affecting nearby private wells.

Lernout said some homeowners are still waiting for emergency support.

“Residents need emergency water in the interim while the regional staff prepare their report and at this point, no residents have been provided emergency water to get by,” she said.

Under the Region’s current policy, residents file complaints with Waterloo Region, which investigates whether problems are linked to municipal pumping. If residents disagree with the findings, appeals are handled internally through the Region’s water commissioner.

Critics argue that process is not independent enough.

“The water takers are holding all the data. Regional staff is the judge, the jury and the decider,” Lernout said.

Salonen said that concern is exactly why she brought forward the motion asking staff to review a new appeal system.

“We need to be making sure that everybody in the region has access to water and those residents on private wells in Wilmot are part of the region,” she said.

The motion also calls for a review of the Region’s current compensation cap of $4,000 for affected homeowners.

“Four-thousand dollars doesn’t even really cover the human labour involved in fixing these well problems,” Salonen said.

The proposed changes could also allow residents who previously filed complaints to have their cases reviewed again once a new appeal process is in place.

Regional staff are expected to bring recommendations on what the committee could look like to council at a meeting scheduled for Aug. 12.