Wednesday, June 16, 2021

ARE THE REGION OF WATERLOO PLAYING FAST & LOOSE WITH REALITY REGARDING THE HEIDELBERG WATER SUPPLY ENVIR. ASSESS.?

First question: Have the Region of Waterloo ever played fast and loose with environmental issues before such as say in Elmira, West Montrose and Cambridge? The answer is yes. Is there any issue regarding the Heidelberg water supply that they have kept on the downlow for a very long time? Again the answer is yes. That would be the groundwater contamination plume emanating from the former Strauss garage at the corner of Lobsinger Line and Kressler Dr. (i.e. "downtown" Heidelberg). Exactly how serious is that plume? Well it took decades to discover the extent of the leakage whether from subsurface gasoline or diesel tanks and or other discharges. Cleanup has been ongoing for many years and to my knowledge still continues. Essentially the volume of discharge resulted in free phase liquids (LNAPLS) below ground surface for sure and maybe even some DNAPLS. Then of course is the relative short distance from this site to the two drinking water wells pumping merrily away for decades and drawing the contaminants towards themselves. All in all not a good situation. ............................................................................................................................ I will say this. I believe that the Region kept the serious bacterial contamination courtesy of both the Grand River and the septic systems in West Montrose on the downlow for decades. They have now finally replaced the wells beside the Grand River in West Montrose with a pipeline to Conestogo which is also hooked up to the pipeline from Waterloo to St. Jacobs and Elmira. It took far too long and now it appears to me that they are finally addressing another groundwater contamination issue (Heidelberg) years to decades late in Heidelberg. ........................................................................................................... I have sent a couple of pithy comments by e-mail along to two gentlemen. One is an employee of the Region and the other of the consulting engineering firm involved namely Stantec.

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