A watershed expert is warning the karst hydrology found in parts of both Bruce and Grey creates the risk of widespread drinking water contamination.
Thorsten Arnold shared a map showing many places that have just a shallow soil layer and permeable bedrock which reduces aquifer protection, with sinkholes and fissures which allow surface contaminants to reach the water stored underground.
Arnold got involved when a friend in the area had brown well water full of solids that smelled like manure, after a neighbouring landowner put cattle in a low lying area that ponds.
Arnold, who has a doctorate in watershed sciences, added vulnerable karst features are scattered across the Bruce Peninsula and upper Grey County.
"My informed opinion is, as the current trend continues, then wider, widespread water contamination is not a question of if, but only a question of when," he cautioned. "And there will be community action. The question is, will it happen before we have a disaster with that is costly? Or do we first need the disaster, the pile of bodies, the loss of property damage, to start getting active here?"
He's worried that as farming intensifies, and more rural residential homes on wells are built, many people will not be protected by municipal drinking water systems, as they have unregulated, private drinking water systems.
"There's economic risks for the tourism industry, retirement Haven and contaminated water doesn't really mix," Arnold Pointed out. "So Justice O'Connor recommended, after the Walkerton water inquiry that agencies should act proactively, swiftly and transparently and responsibly. Question is, will our politicians do the same?"
Arnold said education and water monitoring are a good start, as well as stricter regulations around manure spreading and waste management in karst regions. He encouraged strict codes for silage and manure storage systems, improved setbacks, limits on spreading manure, as well as permanent vegetation cover.
"So it's the public government's responsibility to protect the groundwater, because without groundwater, a private person has no access to water," he said. "Right now, a citizen can only go through the court system if his water is contaminated, and there's no protection. It's a big pain, and it's almost an impossible lawsuit."
Grey County Warden Brian Milne thanked Arnold for the presentation, but there were no questions or resolutions from council.