b'WATER PROTECTIONAQUA PURADispelling myths and providing clarity for water use in the aggregate industryO ne of the largest myths about gravel pits and quar- AGGREGATE PRODUCERS ries is that they use a significant amount of water. Aggregateoperationsarepermittedtotake= WATER MANAGERSlarge volumes of water each day for a number ofreasons. For example, after a heavy rainfall theyAggregate operators are primarily water managers. More than 90 may need to relocate large volumes of water to keep the quarryper cent of the water that is pumped out of a quarry to main-floor dry so that workers can extract the rock.tain dry operating conditions is released into nearby streams or Itisacommonmisunderstandingthatbecauseaggregaterecharged into the groundwater system. Water used for washing operations have permits to take large volumes of water each daystone, sand and gravel is recycled to conserve water resources. that they do.In Ontario, any industry (or individual) removing more than The truth is that the aggregate industry only uses a small portion50,000 litres of water in a day must obtain a Permit to Take Water of water in comparison to what their permit allows. During the(PTTW) from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and spring or after a heavy rainstorm, operations may need to removeParks (MECP), even if that water is relocated within the watershed. their daily allowable maximum, but for most of the year they takeA PTTW is required for many purposes, such as municipal water significantly less or nothing at all. And even when water is pumped,supplies, agriculture, food and beverage, and industrial uses such it doesnt leave the watershed.as power generation. The Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA) and the Water Taking and Transfer Regulation (O.Reg. 387/04) under Here we help you understand water usage in a pit or quarry.the act govern these water takings. 10 AVENUESFALL 2020'