Local Spring Water Has Potential

BY TIM RUHNKE

They are hoping for a gusher.

Northern Canada Springs is cautiously optimistic that a spring water source near Deux Rivieres will become big business for Head, Clara & Maria and the entire Upper Ottawa Valley.

The company is in the early stages of a two-year plan that includes construction of a bottling plant and production of large quantities of everything from bottled water and ice cubes to beer and wine. Company officials from North Bay and Sudbury were in Stonecliffe last Thursday to meet with townships officials and the Deep River area economic development committee.

The spring is nothing new to local residents. Located south of Highway 17 and west of Brent Road, it has provided a never-ending supply of pure, cool water. In fact, it has been the source of limited production of bottled water in recent years.

Northern Canada Springs has obtained the rights to the land from Grant Horricks. Company official Gino Tedesco said it is important to protect the area surrounding the water source. He noted that the property extends all the way to Algonquin Park. The spring originates beneath bedrock and does not include surface water, according to Paul Dionne of Northern Canada Springs. The flow is estimated to be one million litres per day, although the company will not need that much water to make its vision become a reality.

The vision includes a 20,000-square-foot bottling plant to be built • continued on page 16

Springs

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in two phases. Large quantities of water could be pumped into tanker trucks, in addition to the bottling of containers ranging in size from about 300 millilitres to four litres.

The water could also be used in production of other food and beverage items that stand to benefit from a high- quality source. Tedesco suggested there is also interest in controlling surface flow and creating a pond that could be stocked with trout. A smoke house is also being proposed as part of the overall project.