North Kent Coun. Leon LeClair has been asked by the residents in Dover to talk to Dr. David Colby, Chief Medical Officer of Health, about his assertion in the media that there is no risk to human health from black well water in Dover.
At a public meeting recently hosted by the Water Wells First group, the Chatham-Kent councilor said he would sit down with activist and Water Wells First spokesperson Kevin Jakubec to discuss what could be done about the well water situation for some Dover residents who say their well problems started after the wind turbines were constructed near their property.
LeClair met with Jakubec recently and, according to a release from Water Wells First, will be asking Dr. Colby to “provide an evidence supporting his opinion that there is not really a risk to human health from drinking well water contaminated with particulates from former Dover Township water wells.”
The group questioned what qualifies Dr. Colby to give an opinion on ground-borne vibration studies and are asking him to “scientifically investigate and confirm on behalf of our community what are the physical characteristics and chemical compositions of the sediments that are contaminating water wells in the former Dover Township.”
“Dr. Colby should execute his duties of office and determine, using evidence-based medicine instead of conjecture, if any toxicity risk is posed to the population both in short and long-term exposures,” the release stated.
Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy, said he had a notice of motion ruled out of order but had plans to re-introduce it at Monday’s council meeting regarding official representation on the Thames Sydenham Region Source Protection Committee, a group tasked with identifying threats to drinking water, including ground water sources.
Bondy said he is concerned with the fact the municipality isn’t taking action now that they have been made aware of the issues with the Dover wells.
“I have five children and if I turned on my tap and black water came out, I wouldn’t be drinking it, I’d be out of there,” Bondy said. “The municipality has not even acknowledged this as a problem. We’ve ignored the whole thing for fear of upsetting the wind turbine companies.
“It’s big issue and it’s being swept under the rug,” he added. “Why would they make that up?”
The Chatham councilor added that when the wind turbines companies first came to town, council wasn’t aware of any issues with wells, but now that they do know, it’s time to take a stand.
