b'WATER PROTECTIONA WORD ABOUT TERMINOLOGY CUMULATIVEThe government considers any use of water as a taking. IMPACTS A Permit to Take Water (PTTW) simply means that the permit allows the permit holder to use water on their site. Some water takers physically relocate the water out of A cumulative impact, which may result from multiple operationsthewatershed(e.g.,bottledwater),whereasaggregate extracting in the same area at the same time, is defined as the addi- producerslargelymovewateraroundtheirsitetokeep tive effect of multiple quarry dewatering operations on ground- workareasdryandtowashproductinordertomeet water,surfacewaterandecologicalfeatures.InOntario,thespecifications set by the government or to control dust. director of the Permit to Take Water program initiates cumulativeThese uses keep most of the water within the watershed. impact assessments (CIAs) to ensure there are no adverse effectsA better way to think of it is that aggregate producers are where multiple operations are extracting below the water table.water managers.CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONEMERGING ADVANCEMENTS IN WATER CONSERVATIONWhile impacts to water resources are required to be minimized during the operation of quarries, the after use of these operations can contribute to creating resilient communities in the face of aThe aggregate industry is investing in technological advancements changingclimate.Rehabilitatedquarriesprovideopportunitiesthat improve water management plans by reducing water handling for water storage and diverse wetland habitats, which can addressat sites. Innovative improvements in wash plant technology have water quantity issues and minimize flooding in flood-prone areas.showntodecreasewateruseconsiderably.Forexample,tradi-These are just two examples of the interim nature of extractiontional washing facilities use 4,000 L/min in a washing cycle. High-and accommodating subsequent land uses based on local needs.pressure aggregate washing plants trim that down to 90 L/min The Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area and Kerncliff Park in(under 50,000 L/day based on a nine-hour day).Burlington are examples of quarries that have been rehabilitated tobiologicallydiversewetlandecosystems,attractingwildlifeThe aggregate industry is sophisticated, accountable and deeply for the enjoyment of the public long after aggregate extractioncommittedtoenvironmentalstewardship.Aggregateproducers has ceased. Rehabilitated quarries can enhance the natural envi- areprimarilywaterhandlersandnotconsumers.Theactual ronment and create water assets that may offset the impacts ofamount of water consumed at an aggregate operation is relatively climatechange.small. Well over 90 per cent of the water handled is returned to the localwatershed. Water is sprayed from trucks to help control and suppress dust at quarriesTAKEAWAYS So the next time you hear that aggregate operations use a lot of waterremember:The aggregate industry only takes a small percentage of the water volume allowed by permit, and makes up less than one per cent of all water takings in Ontario. Aggregate operators are proficient water users, only using the water that is needed and helping to ensure the sustainable use of water on their sites.the watershed or recycled for aggregate washing purposes.Most of the water the aggregate industry uses is returned to OSSGA would like to thank David Ketcheson, Azimuth Environmental ConsultingInc.;KevinWarner,CambiumInc.;andTeciaWhite, Whitewater Hydrogeology Ltd. for their contributions to this article. For a deeper dive into the numbers, nuances and details of water handling, stay tuned for the release of OSSGAs New Gravel Facts Fact Sheet: Water Handling at Pits & Quarries. Additional resources and Gravel Fact sheets can also be found at gravelfacts.ca/resources. 14 AVENUESFALL 2020'