Quispamsis Car Wash Faces Water Controversy

Some Quispamsis residents are concerned about plans by a local car wash to change the water source for its operation.

Wash 66 has been trucking in thousands of litres of water every week since it first opened on Pettingill Road in May 2019.

But Dr. Jeff Sheppard, who owns the family business, is seeking an amendment to his development agreement to use water from drilled wells instead.

His application drew a mix of opposition and support during a two-hour virtual public hearing at Tuesday’s council meeting.

The town received 17 letters of objection ahead of the meeting. Four of those people shared their views with council during the hearing.

Opposition To Application

Stephanie Patterson, who lives about 400 metres from the car wash, said she has grave concerns the switch could have a negative impact on her water supply.

“This is purely economic on his point. It’s a quality of life issue on our point,” said Patterson. “If there’s a problem with our wells, we have no other alternative. He can truck water in, we can’t.”

Patterson said the town has identified water as a precious resource and has a duty to protect it.

Jennifer Bachynsky, who also lives in the area, expressed similar concerns about what might happen to her wellwater.

“I know the assessment was done and there was good water, but what about the dry summers and droughts and things like that? We’re just really not comfortable with it moving forward,” said Bachynsky.

Water Supply ‘Not A Concern’

A comprehensive hydrogeological study completed by Fundy Engineering Ltd. in February suggests water supply is “not a concern” in the area.

“The long-term safe yield suggests that there would likely be more than 11 times the maximum daily consumption by Wash 66 available from this well,” said the report.

As part of the recommendations from Fundy Engineering, the peak pumping rate would be capped at 34.7 litres per minute and the daily extraction limit would be 50m³ or 50,000 litres.

It is also recommended water usage by recorded each day and water levels within the two wells be measured daily.

According to a staff report, the car wash used approximately 8,000 litres of water per day during its first year in operation.

Support For Application

Damon Goodwin, one of three people to speak in favour of the application, said he recognizes the concerns of some residents but asked councillors to act from an “evidence-based perspective.”

“We can easily have fear about what could happen, might happen, might have happened elsewhere, and so we need to rely on experts. The experts at Fundy Engineering have done a report which shows quite clearly that there’s enough water and that Dr. Sheppard and Wash 66 is using that water responsibly,” said Goodwin.

Sheppard told council the car wash has a recycling and reclaim system in place where they reclaim at least 50 per cent of their operational water.

The system was not a requirement of the development agreement but they wanted to set the stage to be good environmental stewards, he said.

“This car wash is the most environmentally friendly, eco-friendly car wash east of Montreal. That’s a fact,” said Sheppard. “We’re going above and beyond here.”

Council voted to defer their decision until the June 2 meeting so the specific terms and conditions of the amendment can be negotiated and signed by Wash 66 and then reviewed by council.