Understanding the Water Beneath Our Feet
Here in Northwestern Ontario, water isn’t just a resource; it is a way of life. Whether you are drawing from a well in Borups Corners, fishing near Dyment, or just enjoying the landscape of Melgund Township, the health of our groundwater connects us all. As we review the latest Impact Assessment documents for the proposed Revell Site Deep Geological Repository (DGR), we are taking a closer look at how the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) plans to manage the water that flows beneath the rock.
What We Are Learning
The NWMO’s latest report focuses on hydrogeology—essentially, how water moves through the ground. They acknowledge that digging a massive underground facility and managing surface runoff will change how water flows. To handle this, they plan to use pumps and water treatment systems (mitigation measures) to keep the tunnels dry and manage the water they remove.
They also state that the rock they are digging out is “non-acid generating,” meaning it shouldn’t turn the water toxic when exposed to air. Because of these plans, the NWMO concludes that the risk to our water is “low” and that any changes to water levels will be small and contained close to the site.
The Reality Check
While the summary sounds reassuring, a closer look at the technical details reveals some important distinctions between promises and the current evidence.
- What is being promised: The project will have a “low risk” of adverse environmental effects on our groundwater.
- What we need to verify: The report admits that the “conceptual groundwater model”—the computer simulation used to predict these risks—is not yet completed. We are being asked to accept a low-risk rating before the math is finished.
- What is being promised: Water level drops (drawdown) will be limited to “a few hundred metres” from the tunnels.
- What we need to verify: Without the finished model, this is an estimate. We need to see specific maps showing exactly whose land or wells fall within that radius.
The Path Forward
To ensure our community is protected, we need to bridge the gap between current plans and scientific certainty.
The Gap: The assessment characterizes the risk as low, yet the report notes that the conceptual groundwater model is “planned but not yet completed.” Without this model, predictions about water flow and contamination are speculative.
The Solution: We are calling for the NWMO to prioritize the completion and independent peer review of this groundwater model before the assessment is finalized. The model must explicitly define the “few hundred metres” of anticipated drawdown with high-resolution mapping. This will move the conversation from assumptions to evidence-based conclusions.
The Gap: Currently, the plan involves “sharing” results with the community, which feels like a one-way street.
The Solution: We recommend establishing a collaborative groundwater monitoring program. This shouldn’t just be about receiving reports; it should involve local residents and the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation in selecting monitoring well locations and defining what counts as a “material departure” from safety standards.
Why It Matters Here
For residents in Melgund Township and surrounding areas like Dyment, this is personal. If the groundwater models are wrong, it isn’t just a statistic—it could mean a drop in water levels for residential wells or the drying up of wetlands that support our local moose and fish populations. Vague terms like “a few hundred metres” aren’t enough when it comes to the water we drink and the land we hunt on. We need to know exactly where the lines are drawn.
Have Your Say
This affects our future. Submit your feedback on this specific issue via our Engage page to ensure the Impact Assessment Agency hears from our community.
The Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment Project
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) is reviewing the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO) proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR) at the Revell Site, located near Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation in Northwestern Ontario.
This major nuclear infrastructure project is undergoing a joint federal review by the IAAC and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to evaluate environmental, health, social, and Indigenous rights impacts over its projected 160-year lifecycle.
Public Feedback Open: Comments on the Initial Project Description are accepted until February 4, 2026. Submissions help shape the formal impact assessment guidelines.
This short article and summary is based on an initial analysis of a proponent’s initial project description. It does not represent, any community the NWMO or the Government of Canada. Learn more at the Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment Project project page.
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