ELORA – The buildings at the Middlebrook Well are coming down as owner BlueTriton has been issued a municipal demolition permit.
Andreanne Simard, natural resource manager for BlueTriton Brands, confirmed via email the company will be demolishing the “derelict structures” at 7334 Middlebrook Rd. outside Elora, the site of the Middlebrook Well.
“The main building is being demolished for safety and security reasons,” Simard said. “The structure has become unstable and there have been several incidents of vandalism in recent years.”
Simard noted the building will be demolished to the ground-level only and the foundation will remain in place and measures will be in place to protect the well from any work.
“The wellhead has been recently reconstructed and is less than three years old,” Simard said. “It continues to be secured in its own temperature controlled and secure wellhouse on site.”
Questions about a timeline and future plans for the site were not answered in Simard’s email response beyond stressing the company has no plan for “commercial activity of any kind conducted at the site" and there hasn't been in many years.
The Middlebrook Well was included in Nestlé Waters Canada’s US$4.3 billion sale of its North American operations to two private equity firms who have rebranded as BlueTriton.
BlueTrition was recently granted five-year water taking permits for water bottling for the other two Wellington County wells they own in Aberfoyle and Erin.
New legislation requires municipal consent to take more than 379,000 litres per day.
Centre Wellington council passed a resolution in May 2018 stating the township is “not a willing host community to any new commercial water bottling operation or the taking of water for that purpose under any circumstances.”
A tier three study determined Centre Wellington to be at a significant risk level for future water sources as the town has been mandated by the province to nearly double in population by 2041.
Kendra Martin, spokesperson for the Township of Centre Wellington, confirmed the municipality approved the demolition permit but said staff could not comment further on it.
Simard said the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is aware of the demolition and OPP along with neighbouring property owners have been informed as well.
