Our government is committed to protecting our lakes, waterways and groundwater supply, now and for future generations.

To ensure there is sufficient time to complete our review and analysis and to consult on any potential changes to the permit to take water program that arise from the review, we made the decision to extend the moratorium on new or increasing water takings from groundwater sources by water bottling facilities for nine months.

We came to this decision after completing a 30-day consultation on our proposal to extend the moratorium until October 1, 2020.

This decision includes amending the Taking Ground Water to Produce Bottled Water Regulation (Ontario Regulation 463/16) to extend the moratorium to October 1, 2020, and maintain the prohibition on:

permits to take water that would authorize new water bottling facilities to take groundwater

existing water bottling facilities to take more groundwater than authorized in their existing permits

new or amended permits that would allow a facility to take groundwater to conduct pumping tests to determine if it could use the groundwater supply as a source of water for bottled water

This extension gives us time to complete our analysis of the water quantity review and to publicly consult on and finalize changes to how we manage water takings before the moratorium ends.

The people of Ontario want confidence that the quantity and quality of water resources are protected, now and into the future, by good policy that is based on solid science and evidence. This is why we will also look to have the science reviewed and verified by a third-party.

During the moratorium, existing bottled water takings can continue taking groundwater provided they do not exceed the amount of groundwater taking they are authorized to take under their permit and that the taking is from the same location authorized in their permit.

Interim guidance for renewals of existing bottled water permits to take groundwater

The Interim Procedural and Technical Guidance Document for Bottled Water Renewals: Permit to Take Water Applications and Hydrogeological Study Requirements outlines specific procedural and technical requirements for renewal applications of existing permits for water bottling. This Interim Guidance continues to apply while the moratorium is in effect.

Under the Ontario Water Resources Act , a permit holder that submits their application for renewal 90 days before its expiry can continue to operate under the terms and conditions in their expired permits until the Director makes a decision on the application.

Water taking charges