The Fight to Protect the Waverley Uplands, the Cleanest Water in the World

An hour and a half north of Toronto there is a constant stream of cars pulling over to the side of the road.

People get out, walk to the back of their vehicle, open the trunk and lift out jugs, which they carry to a small hut nearby.

Inside the hut there is a trough with spouts above it from which a constant flow of water pours.

Out one end of the trough water cascades down to a small creek scattered with watercress. Farm fields stretch away from the hut to a line of hills in the east. The hills form part of the Oro Moraine, part of which is known as the Waverley Uplands.

The water that flows here has been tested, and the results show that it is more pure, or contains less contaminants, than water tens of thousands of years old that was taken from ice cores in the arctic. 

What may make this water so pure is also what attracts aggregate mining operations.

Moraines consist of rock debris left over by glaciers, which pushed and rolled that debris underneath. The debris forms a filter for water, much like the one you may have in your fridge. It is also a primary resource used in construction.

As you will hear, two large aggregate mines operate in the immediate area of these flows, and have applied to expand their operations.

Impacts from aggregate mining include the use of large amounts of water to 'wash' gravel, as well, often, as digging beneath the water table, which can drastically change hydrogeology.

Check out our site for further links and resources: https://www.simcoecountygreenbelt.ca/waverley_uplands