IT'S IN THE WATER STUPID

Chloramines, Trihalomethanes and Turbidity have somewhat been my focus of water issues in West Montrose. That being said, the first two I felt were as a direct consequence of very high bacteria levels in the raw water. The raw water is classified as groundwater under the direct influence of surface water ie. GUDI. The Region in their responses to my three pages of questions attempted to put all the blame for E.Coli and Total Coliforms on the Grand River running beside the wells. Chloramine levels are a direct consequence of ammonia intentionally added to the water for secondary disinfection as it produces chloramines. The downside is that this very same ammonia can promote the growth of other bacteria in the system as well as Nitrites and Nitrates all of which are not good. The trihalomethanes are a competing chemical reaction produced by adding chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) to the water. This chlorine also produces hypochlorous acid which is the source of free chlorine which kills bacteria and more.

The Region of Waterloo falsely and inaccurately denied that chloramines, Trihalomethanes and Turbidity were problems in West Montrose drinking water. To date the 2013 Class Environmental Assessment by AECOM has made liars out of them regarding Trihalomethanes (THM) and turbidity. The chloramines haven't been discussed yet in my reading of the Class EA but I'm still expecting them to be. Apparently the addition of chlorine by way of sodium hypochlorite is also used for oxidizing iron and manganese in the water. I had felt that the Region must have been overchlorinating the raw water in order to produce so much THM but it now appears that while large amounts of chlorine are involved they are being used for both bacterial disinfection as well as oxidation of dissolved iron and manganese. Regardless it is this very large chlorine demand in the raw water that requires so much to be added. This would also explain the very high CT (contact time) of 51.4 mg/l*minute. This was another one of my questions that the Region refused to answer directly, clearly or properly.

The Annual Reports produced by the Region via a template provided by the Ministry of Environment are also being exposed as grossly inadequate. We are advised on page 46 in the EA that "flooding produces high turbidity causing wells to be shut down multiple times per year.". These multiple shutdowns per year of West Montrose wells are not being reported to the public. Finally we are advised on page 67 that well C4 in Conestoga has had bacterial problems in the past. Really? Again at first blush that is nowhere to be seen in the Annual Reports if read but once a year when they come out. However I reread the last seven years and found something that is disturbing. The 2012 Annual Report indicates well C4 was shut down for four weeks. No reason was given. Then the 2008 Annual Report indicates that well C4 was shut down for eight weeks. Again no reason was given. Finally I stopped looking after I read in the 2007 Annual Report that well C4 was shut down for the entire year. What the hell! Again no reason was given. Well I guess the reason is due to (severe?) bacterial contamination as indicated in the Class EA. Thank you Region of Waterloo and Ontario M.O.E. for your honesty and transparency. By the way are we still keen on a pipeline from Conestogo from well C3 and C4 over to West Montrose?