THE GAP, THE SINK, THE DRAIN & THE CORRUPTION

A picture is worth a thousand words. Perhaps a big picture is worth even more. I produced a three foot by two foot "picture" over two years ago. I presented it at one or two CPAC meetings prior to the takeover by Sandy Shantz and assorted people with little or no knowledge of either the history or the technical aspects of the 1989 Elmira Water Crisis. Just before this last Christmas someone gave me the bright idea of making copies of this large map. Copies however that were smaller, more colourful and easier to both carry around and read. This I did and I have handed them out to selected persons since. That would include CPAC members, Dr. Richard Jackson and Tiffany Svensson. I expect I'll have a few more available for tomorrow's TAG meeting in Council Chambers at 6:30 pm..

This map is a picture of the Uniroyal (Chemtura) site with the focus on the entire east side, north to south. It shows the location of most of the former east side pits and ponds. It also has topographical contour lines on it showing the high ground (red) as well as the lower areas (blue). Also marked on it is a huge swale running north to south along the west side of the east pits (RPE 1-5). This swale can be seen on both Google Earth as well as on Waterloo Region GIS, on-line. This swale is an indication of the volume of overflow from these pits in their operating heyday. The blue areas include the Canagagigue Creek, Stroh Drain and a low area within GP1 (gravel pit 1). The bottom half of this map is simply a copy of a Conestoga Rovers (CRA) 2012 map showing current conditions on the site at that time.

The top left corner shows two maps pinned to the big one (3'x 2'). The top map was produced (copied) in 1991 by consultants CH2MHILL from the bottom map (1983) produced by Jackman, Smith and Ralston representing the GRCA and the Ontario Ministry of Environment. Below that are two photographs taken in 2014 showing a northward view of the start of the Stroh Drain as well as a southward facing view of the pipe coming out of the ground which is the extreme north end of the Stroh Drain.

The title refers to "The Gap". This is the area intentionally not being sampled by CRA, GHD and Chemtura that runs along their eastern border parallel to the Stroh Drain which is perhaps 60 metres due east. The "Sink" refers to the low lying area on the Stroh property which is the area nearest the Chemtura property at the bottom (south) end of the first initial due south run of the Stroh Drain. This area is where it is most likely the greatest quantity of hydrophobic, toxic compounds are held in the soil. Hence it is a sink for DDT, Dioxins, P.C.B.s and much more. The "Drain" of course is the Stroh Drain. The "Corruption" is the behaviour of the M.O.E. and other authorities in desperately avoiding admitting to much less investigating these areas.