East Gwillimbury Treatment Plant Green Lane
York Region will be constructing a new groundwater treatment facility on Green Lane in the Town of East Gwillimbury. The new facility will provide servicing to the local drinking water systems, drawing water from two new water production wells for the towns of East Gwillimbury, Newmarket and Aurora.
To support the new facility, York Region is conducting multiple field studies to prepare for the facility and have retained the services of an engineering consultant to conduct the work.
There may be several field study crews on site to collect readings at different times, which could include:
- Private well investigation and field survey
- Topographical survey
- Utility survey
- Geotechnical investigation
- Hydrogeological investigation
- Surface water study
Impacts:
- Access to all homes will be maintained and there is no impact to your water or wastewater services
- There may be several field study crews on site to collect readings at different times
- A drill rig may be required for the geotechnical borehole drilling and additional groundwater monitoring wells may be installed; the area will be restored when the work is completed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a private water well and how do I know if I have one?
A private water well is a self-contained water supply system, not connected to a municipal supply source, that provides water to a property. The well can look like a steel pipe extending into the ground, or a hole or pit in the ground, similar to the images below. Sometimes the well is buried, and you cannot see anything from the surface.
Figure 1. Drilled water well
Figure 2. Dug or Bored well
Where can I find more information about my private water well?
When a private water well is constructed or modified, the licensed Well Driller/Contractor will file a water well record with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. This record provides information about the well and there is a corresponding Ontario Well Tag number. The well tag number is attached to the well casing (well pipe) and should be visible. See example images below.
When you locate the Well Tag number, you can find your Water Well Record from the MECP open data catalogue.
Source: Ontario.ca
Is the project going to reduce my well’s supply capacity?
Your well’s water taking capacity is unlikely to be impacted by the construction of the water treatment facility and production wells; once commissioned, the new wells will be withdrawing water from the Yonge Street Aquifer; some private wells are screened within this same aquifer.
To be proactive in sustainable water practices, and to support our private well owners the Region is gathering information from private well owners via the Survey about our aquifers. Your participation is greatly appreciated!
When will the groundwater treatment facility be completed and in operation?
The new facility and production wells are not expected to be in operation until 2029.
Is the project going to impact my well’s water quality?
Your well’s water quality is unlikely to be impacted by the project construction and/or new production wells. York Region protects drinking water sources by implementing a Source Water Protection Program under the Clean Water Act, that protects water supplies from potential threats within vulnerable areas now and into the future. A new area around the East Gwillimbury Treatment Plant Green Lane, known as a Well Head Protection Area, will be established and legislated by the Province of Ontario to control activities that may pose a potential threat to the quality and quantity of groundwater in this area.
To learn more visit the York Region’s Drinking Water Source Protection program information
Will the taste of my water be different?
The taste of your water is unlikely to be impacted.
Is water sourced from the new production wells for new development projects?
No. The new production wells will be used to maintain the current water supply capacity from the municipal production well supply system permitted under the Yonge Street Aquifer Permit to Take Water (PTTW) with the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Parks. Additional benefits of the new production wells are to provide system redundancy and operational flexibility, supporting the continued delivery of water to residents and businesses in the towns of Aurora, Newmarket and East Gwillimbury.
How do I test my well’s water quality?
If you wish to have your private well tested, additional information is provided on the Private Well Water Testing Survey. For more information on private well water testing, contact:
Health Connection
1-800-361-5653 or dial 711 with a TTY device
