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4+ WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, November 14, 2007 Continued from page 1 od. With a doctorate in bioloâ€" gy, and an emphasis on ecolâ€" ogy, he can‘t believe that the province would be so shortâ€" sighted in issuing another licence when the Grand River watershed has seen record lows in rainfall, and local residents are under order to conserve water, especially in the hot summer months. "With the possibility of drought in the future in Local water officials not happy with plan to draw more water Bring your letters to Santa! Canada Post Carriers will gather them along the parade route. Bring donations for the Food Bank. Bring new toys for the toy drive by the Waterloo Knights of x_ Columbus and the Waterloo Fire departments. m + Over 100 floats and features â€" Live Bands + 1008 of costumed characters Parade starts at KING & ERB STS. Uptown Waterioo at 10:00 a.m. Waterloo Region, it does not make sense to provide a licence to take large quantiâ€" ties of water to anyone," wrote Fitzgerald, a partâ€"time instructor at the University of Waterioo. "Why should this user be able to take as much water as technically feasible while the residents of Waterloo Region are forced to conserve as much as feasible? "The responsibility to conserve water in Waterloo Region should be shared by all recipients." Fitzgerald said the reality on the ground is that water is already a scarce commodity for some. He said he freâ€" quently visits the St. Jacobs Farmers‘ Market and hears of the plight of local farmers. "The responsibility to conserve water in Waterloo Region should be shared by all recipients." "Just listening to those people about how bad of a year it was, this is ridicuâ€" lous," he said. "Especially when you put that in the context of the region having a water ban. "Why should an individâ€" ual or company have the right to pump as much water as they can seven days a week, every day of the year?" Putting it in the context of global warming, water could be even more scarce and the Concerned citizen province needs to do some longâ€"term planning to make sure it is preserved, he said. "Historically we took this resource for granted," said Fitgerald. "Now that it‘s become more rare the value has gone up, more people have become concerned about it. "I think longer term views really need to prevail here." The regional water department also filed its forâ€" mal objections to the plan last Wednesday, arguing for a moratorium on any more water taking until some of the local water issues are Don Corbett, a senior hydrogeologist with the region‘s water department, said they are opposed to the application on a number of grounds. With the region projected to grow to more than 725,000 people over the next 40 years, identifying new sources of water have become a high priority for the region. "As part of our longâ€"term water strategy we‘ve identiâ€" fied a number of areas within the region which we are tarâ€" geiting for potential future water supply from groundâ€" water sources," said Corbett. "This is one of those areas. "Our concern is that any large water taking might interfere with that." As part of the region‘s obligations under the Clean Water Act, the municipality and the Grand River Conserâ€" vation Authority are also undergoing a water quantity risk assessment. He doesn‘t think people kndw that the public bodies face a higher standard in water taking than private users. "We feel the process for water taking approvals in the province is inequitable because private and comâ€" mercial water takings, as opposed to municipal, are not subject to the same level of technical review and don‘t follow the same public process," said Corbett. "Since the assessment of water quantity risk is still underway and not been completed, we think this application is premature and not really in the public‘s interest." Lastly, Corbett said that they oppose the use of any new wels in areas that are already municipally servâ€" Continued from page 1 Especially if those wells are going to be used for conâ€" sumptive purposes. _ â€" "Once the Santa Claus parade happens, people realâ€" ly seem to get into the spirit of the season." The planning has come a little easier for the Lions Club. who took over the parade in 2004 with only a couple of months of lead time. They have since grown the parade and returned some of the lustre to what has become an annual holiâ€" day tradition. "Every year it seems to get better," said Klomp. "It‘s getâ€" ting easier to put on because we have programs and things are in place. _ "All we have to do is follow our template and away we The cost is something that is also growing, with this year‘s edition of the parade coming in at well over $80,000. But Klomp said it‘s worth it for all the good work that comes out of the parade. In addition to entertainâ€" ing the crowds, and thrilling the kids, the parade also colâ€" lects toys for the Waterloo Parade helps kick off season "Our concern is that any large water taking might interfere with that." For many people who â€" Don Corbett Regional water official drink bottled water they don‘t know where the water really comes from. It could in fact be the same water they get out of their taps at home. "It could be from the groundwater under our own feet, taken from the same resource which the commuâ€" nity is already paying to pump out, treat and deliver to our taps," said Corbett. "And it may not be as safe because it‘s not regulated and tested to the same high standard as municipal tap water." The City of Waterloo also filed an objection to the plan yesterday, saying they are very concerned about Glenâ€" briar‘s application to draw more water. "As of today we‘re filing an expression of very serious concern and some technical considerations for the minâ€" istry," said Ron Ormson, a geoâ€"scientist with the city. "We don‘t support this thing at all." The politicians are also on board. Waterloo Coun. Jane Mitchell, who has fought battles in the past to prevent private water taking, said it also doesn‘t make sense to ask people to conserve water and have a company come along and take the same water. "We weren‘t successful in preventing water taking in a well near Erbsville," said Mitchell. "And [ know some of the people around Erbâ€" sville are still concerned because they think their wells are lower. "We have to look at the longâ€"term water implicaâ€" The Ministry of the Enviâ€" ronment will now engage in a 30â€"toâ€"60 day review process seeking comments from people and municipal officials who have filed their objections. _ The annual parade also supports the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, with food donations going to help the Christmas Bureau and its toy and food hamper camâ€" Knights of Columbus annual toy drive and a toy drive put on by the Waterloo Fire Department. "Our mission is to give back to the community and help people and kids in need at this time of year," said Klomp. "But it‘s a lot of fun, and a lot of people show up." The biggest joy for Komp is the look on the faces of the children as the parade passes by. Especially when Santa stops by â€" he can stop any kid in their tracks. Klomp‘s fourâ€"yearâ€"old granddaughter fessica will be at this year‘s parade, and he can‘t wait to see what she thinks of it all. "She just goes crazy when she seems some of these cosâ€" tumed characters â€"â€" espeâ€" cially Santa," he said. The parade will also be broadcast on Rogers Cable 20 starting at 11 a.m..