WOOLWICH COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - WEST MONTROSE WATER

This Tuesday evening at 6 pm. I will be a Delegate to Woolwich Council in Elmira. I am responding to an Engineering and Planning report prepared by Dan Kennaley, a senior Woolwich Staff person. The report looks at the drinking water situation in West Montrose, Ontario, a part of Woolwich township. West Montrose has been plagued with the admittedly highest detections of both Total Coliforms and E.Coli in all of the Region of Waterloo. As a result the necessary disinfection procedures have further resulted in high detections of both Trihalomethanes (THMs) and Chloramines sometimes in excess of the Ontario Drinking Water Standards.

Mr. Kennaley's report gives the background information, comments, conclusion and recommendations. The Recommendation is for Woolwich Township to request an additional explanation from the Ministry of the Environment (MOECC) as to why five specific chemicals are not required to be tested for. Only slightly nitpicking I would suggest that a more specific request would be to ask why these five chemicals are not required to have their reults posted in the Annual (drinking water) Reports. I would expect that they are tested for and simply not reported.

Mr. Kennaley also appears to be suggesting that the Region and M.O.E. have responded appropriately to my questions submitted a year ago. They have not done so. Further study and research has shown additional problems in the raw water as well as further data regarding tanker trucks bringing in water from outside of West Montrose. These issues need to be resolved and while Mr. Kennaley's recommendation is a step in the right direction, further steps are required.