Sir: As per the statement by Dr. David Colby in The Chatham Voice recently (“Dr. Colby sticks to his well comments,” in the March 8 Voice), I am referring to his quote as follows: “There are no scientifically conducted studies on the ingestion of black shale and I do not expect any to be undertaken, but the groundwater in the area has always been exposed to black shale and we are aware of no health problems attributable to it.”
Your statement of no health problems are probably true, however, Dr. Colby, no one has ever pile driven in the black shale area to put up wind turbines before. It is quite odd and very simple to see since Samsung and Pattern started the operation of pile driving for turbines, residents’ wells in that area have gone bad in Dover and North Kent.
No scientific studies done as of yet on the ingestion of black shale undertaken. I think of what you said … no one wants to drink that water that has been tested by these well owners and it is a good thing they did test the wells before this all started as now when the wells are damaged they have proof of what is happening.
The Wynne government, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Minister of Health, MPPs, Mayor Hope, and for sure you, Dr. David Colby, should start taking action and help these citizens in Dover and North Kent with the damaged wells that were caused by the wind project on the Kettle Point Black Shale bedrock.
Start doing the testing that these families have been doing and have proof that the water wells have contaminants in them now. Bring water lines to them, as it is not the fault of these families.
The 15-per-cent ownership of the wind project should be paying for water to these citizens.
The mayor and councillors who voted on this ownership are responsible too as they did not do due diligence before approving this. That $8 million could have been used for infrastructure or could have been left in the reserve fund.
What a major mistake and this has caused families their wells. A necessity of life: WATER, and you are not doing anything to help the residents. Unbelievable!
Linda Chevalier
Tilbury
