Amaranth Deputy Mayor Walter Kolodziechuk was almost incredulous last Saturday morning when he learned from a newspaper reporter that the Ministry of Environment had issued a three-year water-taking permit for Fernbrook Spring Water, and had yet to apprise the township of its action.

The township in November had asked that any new permit for Fernbrook should be for a shorter period than requested by it, and that the permitted quantity should be reduced in the face of a provincial Level 3 drought.

Fernbrook's hydrogeologist had denied the drought but, said the deputy mayor, "The ministry's own Website still shows a Level 3 drought. We've had (experienced) well drillers at council telling us they're drilling a lot of wells, and that the water level (is dropping)."

Mr. Kolodziechuk acknowledged that there had been a lot of precipitation since the end of summer. He said 2007 was one of the driest in recent history. "We've had a lot of snow since, but (the surface water) doesn't reach the aquifer right away. It could take years," he said.

Mayor Don MacIver could not be reached by telephone, and hadn't responded to numerous messages. However, coinciding with the request to the ministry, he had written to Premier Dalton McGuinty requesting provincial assistance for homeowner seeking new sources of drinking water, in view of the receding water table.

"I have already raised this critical and severe climatic impact with the Environmental Commissioner's Office of Ontario, (with) conservation authorities and Emergency Management Ontario.

"In all cases, they have acknowledged the unique and devastating impact of the drought but when asked why an emergency was not declared by the Province of Ontario, they all point their finger at you (Premier McGuinty) and indicate that this is a political decision."

Alluding to the Fernbrook application, the mayor asks: "Why, knowing that we have been at a Level 3 emergency status for many months, did you not restrict water-bottling plants and other water takers that your level of government regulates directly? Why has this drought emergency in Ontario slipped through your fingers?"

The Dec. 7 letter to the premier has not been acknowledged to date. At its Jan. 9 meeting, the council moved to send a follow-up. As well, Fernbrook's renewal permit had been issued for Dec. 31, but the council had not been advised. As of last Friday, the township had still not been notified of the ministry action on the application.

On Friday, a call to the environment minister's office was referred to John Steele, media relations. Mr. Steele confirmed that the Fernbrook permit had been issued for a three-year period Dec. 31, 2007-2010, at the previous limit of 100 gallons per minute in total from three wells.

Mr. Steele said the decision to issue would have been based on the ability of the aquifer to provide the water. Other considerations, such as Fernbrook's move of the bottling facility away from the local area, would be political (as opposed to technical).

Former Amaranth mayor Bob Currie was more than disgruntled, but not surprised, by the Fernbrook permit renewal. In fact, he viewed it as something of a déjà vu.

He recalled that Fernbrook used to employ as many as 25-30 local people - albeit at close to minimum wage - in its heyday. His information was that purchaser Bob Elliott had previously owned Aberfoyle Bottling, but had sold that to Nestle prior to buying Fernbrook.

When Mr. Elliott applied for a permit renewal in 2005, he said, Amaranth with the support of Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority asked for an Environmental Assessment. Before anyone knew it, the ministry issued the permit.

It's a case, he said, of "the boys downtown," saying, "we've got more clout than you (locals), so screw off. It's a prime example of one law for the rich and another for the poor.

"This is wrong. No kidding. Water is a renewable resource provided it rains. He's taking out more than it has rained. If it were a gravel pit, at least the township would be paid something. He's taking out the water, paying nothing, and his only cost is the cost of pumping it."

Once the water is taken out, said Mr. Currie, "it's gone forever. None of it comes back from Toronto or wherever it's exported to."