The tenacity of the group Water Wells First is getting results, with leaders of four opposition parties joining the call for an official health hazard investigation into the contamination of area water wells with black shale sediment.
Spokesperson Kevin Jakubec confirmed Monday that Progressive Conservative party leader Doug Ford put in writing his commitment to a full health hazard investigation into the well water problems being experienced in Dover and Chatham townships since the North Kent wind turbine projects in both communities began.
The black shale, currently being investigated in an independent study at the University of Windsor, is know to contain heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, lead and uranium. Jakubec said the residents have been asking the government for health hazard study to know definitively how much shale, if any, is safe to be ingested.
In lab testing at an accredited lab in Michigan, one Chatham township family found out their well water went from a small amount of black shale particulates naturally in the water to more than 680,000 particles of black shale per millilitre of water. Paul and Jessica Brooks are worried how the amount of contaminant is affecting their family’s health, short and long term.
Also sending a letter of commitment to support a health hazard investigation Monday was Trillium Party Leader Bob Yaciuk, joining the NDP and the Green Party in demanding action from the government.
“The Trillium Party of Ontario and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario back Water Wells First in calling for an immediate and proper Health Hazard investigation into the sediments containing black shale now polluting a number of water wells in Dover and Chatham townships in North Chatham-Kent,” Jakubec said in a statement. “The Trillium Party and PC Party join the NDP Party and Green Party in their demand that all Ontarians, rural or urban, have a fundamental right to clean, safe water. Four Ontario political parties have recognized the urgent need to find out the extent of the health risks posed by the substances now contaminating the natural drinking water supply.”
Jakubec said the members of WWF have been frustrated by the government’s refusal to test the sediment clogging the wells of residents in the wind turbine project areas in Dover and Chatham townships. Dr. David Colby, medical officer of health for Chatham-Kent, said previously ministry of environment officials have tested the water itself for bacteria and contaminants and there is no proof there is a need for an official health hazard investigation.
WWF is also calling for the government to halt any work on future projects, including the Otter Creek wind farm project north of Wallaceburg.
“The Otter Creek Wind farm development must not continue through the REA Permitting process under Reg. 359/09. Water Wells First will demand that Premier Wynne immediately stop the REA Permitting process for the project and that MOECC Minister Chris Ballard lead by example and follow his own words when he speaks; ‘the Ministry takes the concerns of groundwater seriously,’ and place a stop on the Otter Creek Wind development.”
Jakubec added that all four parties have recognized that the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has “failed to determine the scope of the contamination in the area’s aquifer by the ministry’s own staff unwillingness to undertake the very basic step of an investigation.”
“MOECC staff refuse to collect and analyze the substances in the polluting sediments and as a consequence in this matter, are not enforcing the Ontario Environmental Protection Act,” Jakubec claimed.
“Water Wells First is thankful all four parties and their respective leaders are taking action and making commitments that after the June election, will see that this issue will remain at the forefront in Queen’s Park until it is resolved and the parties who created this travesty are held fully accountable.”
While Jakubec said he knows some people don’t understand his determination to help his neighbours and community, he and WWF members will continue to advocate until they know how using the contaminated well water will affect their health and who is responsible.
“To think how this group of farmers banded together and kept at this. I hope we can inspire our high school students that if they a face similar situation later in their lives like this, they’ll remember the tenacity of their parents and grandparents in their fight for clean, safe water,” he noted. “The adage is true; the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Outspoken activism can be effective in putting a spotlight on serious deficiencies in government services and still serves our society in an important role of speaking the truth to those in power.”
