Work continues in downtown Wheatley, and don’t be surprised when a drone flies overhead.
Municipal officials said ELM 360 Environmental Consulting Ltd., the firm chosen to handle the next stages of downtown improvement in the wake of the 2021 explosion, will be using a drone starting Aug. 7 to look for gas emissions.
The drone is capable of detecting methane emissions over the village and surrounding rural areas.
As well, municipal staff began a door-to-door campaign near the downtown excavation zone to inform residents what to expect in the coming months.
That will include work by ELM 360, slated to begin in early September, to dig down into the evacuation zone is check for the existence of any more water or gas wells on the site and to remove the remaining foundations of the buildings.
The municipality, along with the contractors, have developed an extensive emergency response plan, officials said, to cover any scenarios that could be encountered during the work. This plan includes having all staff and equipment on standby prepared to work 24 hours a day to remediate a gas well if found.
The door-to-door visits will include sharing information about the response plan.
A community open house will also be Aug. 8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wheatley Village Resource Centre where municipal representatives and consultants will be on hand to explain technical details and answer questions.
Information will be posted on the Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent Wheatley Emergency Webpage for those who cannot attend.
The drone flying will be done after the excavations are complete as well. This is to see if any of the work caused a change in known methane emissions.
