Sir: I am writing with a concern about the lack of speed with which the well water investigation in Chatham-Kent is taking place.
During the election campaign, now Premier Ford submitted a letter that such an investigation would take place, if he were elected. More then a year after being elected, Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton made an announcement, to a small select group, on July 19, indicating that a committee had been formed to investigate this issue.
Promises made, promises kept.
The news media recently released that the committee should have their report completed by the end of 2020. This brings to mind a saying of the late Chip Gordon, a councillor in Chatham-Kent who said, “When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.”
This committee has been formed for over a month and no one in the area has heard anything from any of them. Have they figured out geographically where Chatham-Kent is yet?
Do you think for even a moment that the people in Dover Township, who have had well water concerns since 2012 or longer, are satisfied with this time frame?
Do you think that the people in Chatham Township with water well problems since 2016 are satisfied with this time frame?
There are families whose wells were choked off by the black particles; there are some whose water was discolored by the particles; and there are some, like mine, whose water was clear and is still clear, but have had dramatic changes in the analysis, especially the heavy metals.
I was fortunate enough to have had water analysis done before turbine construction in my area in 2012 and then again in 2016 and 2019. The aquifer water should not change like that unless reacted upon by an extraneous action like pile driving for turbine construction or the turbine operation vibration.
You and many others do not realize what it feels like to bring in water for drinking and cooking. Most of us still bathe, wash dishes and clothes in this water and are constantly worried about any health effects it may have on our families and us.
How about those whose well water appearance has not changed, but like mine, has increased toxic matter in it now. Does an almost 10-year wait seem like a reasonable length of time to have to wait?
I would think that the boots need to hit the road! Samples should be immediately taken from all wells that are near turbines, possibly starting with the closest ones first.
Let the toxicologists study the analysis and dangers associated with the combined effect that these elements will have on humans.
Perhaps there also need to be blood or tissue tests done on some residents to see if the harmful effects are already taking place.
Does the committee even have a plan in place yet?
I believe that another year’s delay is much too long, and that action needs to happen now!
Peter Hensel
Dover Centre
