Editor: I, like many others living over the Hopington Aquifer, have long been concerned with preserving the quality and quantity of our water, and understood when signs went up at the beginning of July stating that water restrictions were in effect.

Granted, this is a voluntary restriction for those using well water, but for the most part residents understand this and are compliant.

For us personally, we operate an educational garden and do our best to teach visitors about xeroscaping (landscaping with minimal water). We have planted our garden knowing full well that we could not water it, thereby promoting plants that are drought tolerant.  This has worked well for many years.

Keeping this in mind, we are at a loss to understand why Township and the Agricultural Land Commission have given tentative approval for a 65-home subdivision on the former Tuscan Farm Gardens property.

While this is indeed one-acre zoning, the 65 homes are not going to be located on one-acre parcels. There will be a cluster (subdivision) on one small part of the property.

What happens if those homes are sold to people who are not familiar with what it means to live over a fragile aquifer?  Should we expect wells to be running dry as 65 new residents wash their cars every weekend?

If the Township and the ALC feel that an additional 65 homes over the Hopington Aquifer are not going to be a problem and approved it, then why do we have water restrictions?

It’s a simple question — is there a water problem or isn’t there? Telling us we have water restrictions and then approving 65 new homes seems a little contradictory to me.

Pam Erikson,

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