​Kincardine asked to supply drinking water to Bruce Energy Centre

A request has been made to Kincardine council to provide drinking water (potable water) to the Bruce Energy Centre industrial park, located on Farrell Drive, just off Bruce County Road 20, northwest of Tiverton, across from the Bruce Power Visitors’ Centre.

Nancy Michie, representing the energy centre, brought the proposal to the council meeting Wednesday night, Jan. 10.

The request also includes provision of potable water to the lot at 1554 Bruce County Road 23, on the southeast corner of Bruce County Roads 20 and 23, for a potential restaurant with a drive-thru.

“We realize that potable water is an important factor for a developer who gives consideration to the location of a business, and is an important asset for the manufacture of goods produced and processed at the site, and for staff who should be provided with safe drinking water at their workplace,” said Michie.

She noted that the energy centre representatives have been in contact with municipal staff and engineering consultants about this project, and confirmed with the clerk, following the Oct. 11, 2023, council meeting, that the municipality had approved the extension of potable water to Bruce Power.

“During the process, we conversed with B.M. Ross and Associates, Kincardine’s director of infrastructure and development Adam Weishar, and David Kielstra of Stantec, to advise that the Bruce Energy Centre was interested in an extension for the water service,” said Michie.

“We were advised in May, 2023, that the Bruce Energy Centre was not within the study area (for the extension of water service) and that a request to council for the extension would be required. We were also advised that a capacity report, prepared by an engineering company, would be necessary to give the consideration to the request. Cobide Engineering Inc. prepared a high-level review, which we received Sept. 27, 2023. Following the decision of the council for the Bruce Power request, we submitted our report to Adam Weishar. His team reviewed the report and advised us Oct. 13, 2023, that his team gave us approval to make a presentation to council.”

She said that during the discussion with the municipality, they reviewed the past history documents for the services at the Bruce Energy Centre and noted that the roads and services were transferred to the municipality, by bylaw, Aug. 11, 2010, being an agreement with Bruce Power, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the municipality.

The services included roads, sewage lines and plant, non-potable waterlines and tower, and the necessary easements. In 1996, a study was done by Ontario Hydro to review the possibility of installing potable water to the site, but that project did not proceed.

“We are aware that individual wells for potable water can be drilled for each lot for development,” said Michie. “However, we feel that that would not be the best option for the environment and the aquifer, when the potable water connection is located so close to the site. Therefore, we have researched the proposal and followed the process and here we are, today, before council asking for your consideration.

“Potable water will be a valuable asset to attract future developers to the site and the area within the Municipality of Kincardine.”



The potential development area at the Bruce Energy Centre and the lot at 1554 Bruce County Road 23

The report by Cobide Engineering, states that the energy centre is currently serviced with a 300-millimetre-diameter PVC non-potable watermain, fed from the elevated storage tower located in the northwest corner of the industrial park. This water is used for processing and fire-flow purposes and not as a domestic drinking water supply.

“This is a tough one for me,” said councillor Bill Stewart. “It looks as if all that vacant property your currently own will benefit from this. This seems to be one of those front-end loading or developer-led agreements. My question is, would you be prepared to pay for the water and we pay you bak through development fees?"

“I appreciate the question,” said mayor Kenneth Craig, “but it is more appropriately answered by referring this to staff, for a different sort of municipally-directed perspective on it, and to offer us some options.”

“Yes, we will consider the best option and bring a report back to council,” said Weishar.

“I’d like to see a multi-disciplinary report with all our options, such as supplying the potable water from other sources,” said councillor Mike Hinchberger.

Council agreed to have staff bring forward a multi-disciplinary report for the provision of potable water to the Bruce Energy Centre.