LUISA D'AMATO ASKS "WHO KNOWS IF THE WATER IS SAFE IN CAMBRIDGE?"

The answer to that question in today's Record is fairly clear. Likely Stantec, one insurance company, and the Ontario Ministry of Environment have at least a reasonably good idea. Perhaps the detailed surface water report has been shared with the Region of Waterloo as well. Maybe even with the City of Cambridge. The problem is that there are more issues involved than just comparing numbers. Currently myself, CPAC and TAG are wrestling with a soil and sediment report for the Canagagigue Creek. Surface water testing measures dissolved concentrations of contaminants (such as jet fuel components) in the water. It does not measure for example persistent organic pollutants in either creek bank soils or creek bottom sediments. These contaminants are up taken by small organisms in the bottom of the creek (Benthics) and as well creek bank soils can be eroded over time and end up back in the creek. Other problems include method detection limits being set higher than either federal or provincial health and safety criteria. When laboratory detection limits are artificially set too high than exceedances of criteria are effectively camouflaged.

Surface water results generally greatly minimize the extent of contamination in the water. This is due to simple dilution. Time and distance from a spill can make an incredible difference as to what is found dissolved in the surface water. Unlike groundwater which is only somewhat recharged after a significant rain event, surface water is constantly recharged from up river (i.e. up gradient). Groundwater can and will hold toxic contaminations literally for decades or longer. Surface water is moving so much faster that in a few days the bulk of a spill can literally be miles downstream. Yes residual contamination is likely to show up in water samples for a while but the numbers are a miniscule fraction of what they were in the first couple of days.

What our various government bodies conveniently forget is that while some of them may "own" the report; Mill Creek, Shades Mill Conservation Authority, and the Grand River are owned by us, not them. We canoe, swim, fish and drink the water from the Grand River. I have bluntly stated that the Ontario MOE are corrupt. I suggest that based upon my definition of corruption most of our government bodies are as well. Thank you very much GRCA, Region of Waterloo, MOE, Ontario government, Cambridge Council (?), and whoever else are making my case for me by refusing to publicly release these surface water reports.