Council approves monitoring systems purchase as it searches for new water sources

ELORA – In its hunt for new water sources to serve a growing community, the Township of Centre Wellington is exploring four new potential well sites.

At the May 15 council meeting, staff asked council to approve the purchase of four water monitoring systems at a cost of $113,000.

Staff identified Solinst Canada Ltd. as the manufacturer of the Waterloo multi-level system, a specialized water monitoring system “that provides a much better understanding of the aquifer response to pumping, which provides a better understanding of potential impacts to private wells and sensitive environmental receptors (i.e., wetlands and rivers),” states the report by manager of engineering Adam Gilmore.

The township already owns two of these systems, which it uses to monitor water-taking as required for its permit to take water.

Stantec Consulting Ltd. is conducting the Well Exploration Project, and Aardvark Drilling Inc. will install the equipment.

The system can collect data at different depths, which is an advantage over other systems, Gilmore said.

It can also provide immediate information - Gilmore called it “the now piece” - as well as monitor trends over time as it assesses water supply potential.

While the equipment is over budget – $75,000 was the original budget for this equipment – the overall project is expected to remain within budget, Gilmore said.

Council approved the purchase.