If Chatham-Kent council actually goes ahead with action to put the “feet of the MOE to the fire” as promised by East Kent Coun. Leon Leclair regarding water well issues in north Chatham-Kent, a collective “it’s about time” cry will be heard far and wide.
Water Wells First, a group of frustrated farmers and well owners, have been on this topic for more than a year, begging council and the Ministry of the Environment to listen to their concerns about contaminated wells in Dover, and the potential for more with the North Kent Wind project currently under construction in North Kent.
Well, perhaps someone should have listened. With five wells now contaminated due to turbidity, and the baseline testing done to prove it, how can anyone deny the pile driving construction currently underway is the culprit?
WWF even has the East St. Clair wind farm project director of operations on tape as saying pile driving was the cause of turbidity problems in more than eight wells in that project area that we know of. Some people have been afraid to come forward because of fear of their property losing value due to water problems.
And even if the people in East St. Clair were given filtration systems, WWF has proof that the sediment clogging at least one well contains black particles (shale) that in this area are known to carry heavy metals. In one well sample, 52 per cent of the particles were under one micron and filtration experts have said it very difficult to make filters that will remove particles under one micron.
So why won’t the MOECC take samples of the sediment in North Kent and tell these people whether even the filtered water they are drinking, bathing in, and giving their small children is safe or not?
And where are the public health officials in all this? Is contaminated drinking water, even in a private well, not a public health issue, particularly if we are talking about a whole underground water source?
The municipality needs to step up and demand answers from the MOECC and if they won’t answer, then councillors should stand in the blockade lines with the people in this community until they get them.
Very well written for sure! Thank you Mary Beth!
The citizens of Dover and now North Kent 1 are losing there good well water that they have had for many years.
Mr. Bondy tried to help these citizens last year but no other Councillors or Mayor Hope got behind him, as the Mayor and some Councillors thought it would be better to invest $8 million to the wind company. Oh no they wanted to invest and get a 15% of the action.
The council have always put money up front to get an analysis for any project before it starts, but it seems for the wind company project in this area they took the Golder Report as GOLD!!!
Now we know how bad that report was, and also at the tribunal the Mayor stated no actual facts brought forth. How about all the water wells First findings. No I think someone mention that they did not know if it was a qualified person taking those samples. WELL, at that time the lightbulb should have went off and Council and Mayor should of got there own study down but still did nothing!!! How many more wells have to go down. Chatham Kent now is a Walkerton/Flint,Michigan problem. I agree with the statement above that the Health inspector if he can put a bulletin out for South Kent not to drink water a couple of weeks on a Friday and than on Sunday after testing was done say it’s okay now, but the water is okay to drink in the wells after the pile driving without doing any testing at all. That’s sad!
These citizens have suffered long enough and the pile driving has caused this!
Wind Company for both Dover and North Kent one should pay damages and to protect these citizens should be paying for water line and Council and Mayor should be agreeing to that whole heartily as they took to long to do something! To say at Council meeting this past Monday that all water wells in Dover are okay….give your head a shake!!!
Has anyone went to these residents to check, I think not.
Water is an necessity for drinking, bathing, doing laundry,cleaning and feeding the animals.
Also, what about the expense of purchasing filters, stain tubs, toilets and washers.
Who will help pay for these extra expenses for these families that really do not need these expenses after they paid for the water testing to there wells that Council and Mayor did not look at or they thought it was not down by an professional.
Yes, this SHOULD of been taken care of a year ago.
It’s not done yet and we will wait and see what really happens and if Mayor Hope and Council is finally behind the citizens of Dover and NorthKent One.
I hope so! I am sure the residents of these areas would like to bring coffee and water to your next meeting and give you a drink of water from there taps!
How many Councillors and would Mayor Hope drink the water, I think NOT!!!
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Very sad that SOo much hurt had to happen
next time maybe try
Good planning
it goes along way