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Poverty stats are disturbing hree of the community‘s top social service organiâ€" I zations are putting their heads together this sumâ€" mer to tackle the area‘s growing poverty problem. The Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo Community Foundation recently hosted a roundâ€"table discussion, bringing members of the Working Centre in Kitchener, which provides job training and support for those seeking employment, and the Food Bank of Waterloo Region together to discuss ways to assist local families who fall into the lowâ€"income category. y R (@iehe Largest ® oc H Barstool Gallery wl *pâ€". in Ontario! | -"-“I‘fit‘)'uéhisrthal emergeud from the discussion are now being analyzed and a report will be made public in the next couple of months. . ME mp ce n Somi t Rosemary Smith, executive director of the Kâ€"W Comâ€" munity Foundation, stressed any measures that come from the report will be a community decision, and she hopes others show interest in taking part in the process. "The abject is to take (issue) to the community and build a collective response," Smith said. "We don‘t believe this problem can be solved by one organization or indiâ€" vidual, but we do believe this can have a madeâ€"inâ€" Waterloo solution." Smith said the statisâ€" tics of thase struggling to make ends meet are disâ€" turbing. Over 53,000 residents of the Region of Waterloo live under the lowâ€" income cutoff, she said, _ ; and oneâ€"third of those seeking help from the Food Bank of Waterloo Region are actually employed. "Our initial goal is to make the community aware there is a problem." Smith said. "Unless we happen to be challenged, we seem to forget this issue is out there. After all, people who are challenged don‘t walk around with a sign saying, ‘We are challenged."" inbnbainn ce uns & Smith said the area is lucky enough to have some people who‘ve stepped forward to offer those less fortuâ€" nate some support. + Eons Py She mentioned a local dentist who‘s made his serâ€" vices available at no charge to those in need. â€" "We‘re seeing things Rappening. so thats encourag ing," Smith said. Td en w But one of the discussion group‘s main goals is to bring all levels government together, as well as fellow local service providers, and others who have a "collective objective." â€" . e n in s M ce ‘This is a tremendously successful community, but the needs are increasing, "Smith said. "And the way things are structured limits {access) to some services. "In the meantime, the challenges continue to become larger, conceived by disparity." OMeLITEN LSFMEAGP CCR _ en he Mom n omenmienene in en c 9 1 T 1 Education will be key. "There is a desire on our behalf to have these discussions, and we‘re looking for others who share that desire to bring forward new (ideas}," Smith added. The group will meet again once the report is released By Anprea Baiey Chronicle Staff "We don‘t believe this problem can be solved by one organization or individual, but we do believe this can have a madeâ€" inâ€"Waterloo solution." â€" Rosemary Smith Executive director of the Kâ€"W Community Foundation Grand River watershed drying out as officials ask public to conserve ater users across Whe Grand River watershed _ are being asked to conserve water with the aim of reducâ€" ing consumption by 10 per cent. Rainfall across the waterâ€" shed has been about 40 per cent normal during the past two months, with only occaâ€" sional localized storms proâ€" viding temporary relief in some areas. As a result, river and stream flows have dropped in many places to about 70 per cent normal summer lows. Jesse Williams, Hana Goodwich, Andrea Ort, and Jamie Heimpel try their hand at synchronized swimming last week as they jump into Moses Springer Pool together during last week‘s heat wave. i ® Most municipal water systems have outdoor water use bylaws in place, and resâ€" idents are asked to abide by those bylaws to help their communities attain the 10 per cent reduction. The bylaws set out rules for lawn and garden watering, car washing and other outdoor water uses. Other major water users, such as golf courses, gravel pits, farm irrigators and othâ€" ers are asked to implement or continue their water conâ€" servation programs to reach the 10 per cent target. The request for the reduction came from the Grand River Low Water Response team which met in a teleconference on Thursday. The team is made up of representatives of municipalities, water users, Six Nations, the provincial agriculture, environment and natural resources tminâ€" istries and the Grand River Conservation Authority. It was created to impleâ€" ment the Ontario Low Water Response Plan in the Grand River watershed. According to the criteria set out in the provincial plan, when river and stream flows reach 70 per cent norâ€" mal summer levels, water users are asked to voluntariâ€" ly reduce consumption by 10 per cent. This is called a Level 1 condition. Flow data from GRCA monitoring stations shows that the Eramosa River, Nith River, Whiteman‘s Creek in Brant County and McKenzie Creek in the Six Nationsâ€" Haldimand area are at Level 1 flows. Mill Creek, near Cambridge, is approaching Level 1. The lower Nith and Whiteman‘s are approachâ€" ing Level 2 conditions, where flows are only half of normal. In a Level 2 situaâ€" tion, water users are asked to cut consumption by 20 per cent. Farm irrigation is a major water use in the Nith and Whiteman‘s area. Farmers can lower the demand on the watercourses and aquifers by pumping water at a lower rate, storing it in ponds or by staggering their pumping times in conjuncâ€" tion with neighbours to lower peak demand. The GRCA is maintaining flows at normal summer levels on the main channel of the Grand, the lower Conâ€" estaogo and Lower Speed rivers by augmenting naturâ€" al flows with water drawn from GRCA reservoirs. Water from the GRCA reservoirs accounts for 80 per cent of the flow in the Grand at Kitchener, 50 per cent of the flow in the Grand at Cambridge (Galt), 40 per cent of the Grand at Brantâ€" ford and 40 per cent of the flow in the Speed at Guelph. For more information on the Lower Water Response Plan go to the GRCA website at www.grandriver.ca. Cartuin CanpenTeR POT8Q