ST. JACOBS/ELMIRA WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

This report is solely in regards to the local distribution system focusing on bacterial issues etc. not so much on industrial/agricultural chemicals as does the Region of Waterloo Annual Reports. Unlike the City of Waterloo, Woolwich Township does not list the material used in water pipes in St. Jacobs and Elmira. These would unfortunately include both lead and asbestos pipes. Lead sampling occurs but unfortunately asbestos does not and it should. Asbestos fibres in drinking water are regulated in the U.S. and other countries but are not in Canada, likely for political reasons such as continued exports of asbestos overseas.

Oddly a reading of 10.1 parts per billion for lead in the plumbing system is not indicated as an exceedance although the criteria is 10.0 . Yes it's close but still an odd interpretation of the numbers.

The maximum number of coliform bacteria results was 350 in 2019 which comparatively exceeds the other three municipal systems I have examined so far this spring namely Waterloo, Maryhill and West Montrose at 65, 19 and 3 respectively. There were also four Adverse Water Quality Incidents involving Total Coliform in which flushing of watermains was undertaken followed by resampling.

Both Haloacetic Acids (HAA) and Trihalomethanes (THM) are well below the criteria for them.

Also there was zero E.Coli found in the system .

At a later date I will likely post the Region of Waterloo's Annual Report for Woolwich Township and its various water systems.

CITY OF WATERLOO ANNUAL (Drinking Water) REPORT

Firstly realize that this is not the same thing as the Region of Waterloo's Annual Report for the City of Waterloo. In that report the Region focus on the chemical testing of the treated water sent to the City of Waterloo. These chemicals are both industrial chemicals as well as agricultural chemicals such as herbicides (glyphosate-Roundup, 2,4-D & much more). The city themselves in their report are focusing on lead and bacteria in their distribution systems as well as products of disinfection such as HAAs and THMs (Haloacetic acids and Trihalomethanes) both of which can be toxic and carcinogenic above certain criteria. Notable by their absence is asbestos fibres in the drinking water as well as any mention of lead piping owned by the city. They list all the types of materials used in their "watermains" including asbestos-cement but do not mention lead pipes. Possibly "watermains" are defined as solely the piping under the roadway and not the secondary lines from the roadway "watermains" taking water into each individual home and building. Also possible is that all the lead piping on city property has been replaced with other material although I am doubtful. What however is very clear is that some Waterloo residents are drinking water laced with lead as this report makes that very clear. Some of the lead concentrations are more than double the criteria and some of the lead in plumbing systems is triple the criteria as well as nine times greater and one sample was 26 times greater than the criteria. For lead in the distribution system action consisted of flushing and resampling the offending site which frankly I view as doing little or nothing. Actions for lead in individual plumbing systems consisted of notifying the Public Health Unit, the Spills Action Centre and the residents of the home involved. Again I view those actions as inadequate.

Regarding the failure to even mention or advise that asbestos fibres are released from older asbestos-cement pipe or disturbed pipe I am deeply offended. Our municipal authorities seem to feel that as long as Health Canada and the federal government are willing to pretend that asbestos is a non issue, then so are they. Meanwhile other jurisdictions around the world including the U.S. have set health standards for asbestos fibres in drinking water.

By the way the concentrations for both HAAs and THMs are well below the provincial criteria for those substances.

Regarding bacteria there are some concerns. There were two instances of Total Coliforms exceeding the criteria which resulted in flushing and resampling the site but of even greater concern was one instance of E.Coli being present in the system. In this case the Public Health Unit did issue a Boil Water Advisory (BWA) which only lasted for a few days as again flushing and resampling occurred. Between gaps in the Regional testing and publishing of results as well as gaps in the municipal program there will be residents who are adversely affected by their drinking water. In most cases it will be long term health issues (chronic) versus immediate sickness (acute).

CORONAVIRUS: ARE WE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY ENOUGH?

It's a health problem/crisis. It's spreading throughout the world due to too many people travelling around the world and without governments using the authority they have to at least temporarily slow unnecessary travel i.e. holidays abroad. The front page of today's Waterloo Region Record carries the following story: "Coronavirus hits home". This is the first documented case in Waterloo Region although that certainly doesn't mean that it is the only case.

The woman travellor to Italy returned on Tuesday and immediately drove herself to Grand River hospital. Allegedly proper precautions were taken there to avoid spreading of the virus. Of course we don't know how long she spent in the Emergency department waiting for attention. What we do know is that she was released from hospital a few hours later. Her diagnosis wasn't confirmed until the next day (Wednesday). What the hell! Again allegedly she is at home in self-isolation. The problem is that she does not live alone. Therefore are her "small family" also quarantined even via self-isolation? Or in the alternative are they off to school or work within the community? Has someone outside the family been appointed to pick up groceries, pharmaceuticals or other necessities and leave them at the front door?

There are way too many unanswered questions and I expect way too much opportunity for this virus to move through our community as it has everywhere else.

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

March 15, 2014, Letter To The Editor of the Woolwich Observer: Dr. Dan Holt, CPAC Chair sent the following Letter To The Editor titled "Groundwater safety an issue right here in Elmira". Essentially Dr. Holt was both complimenting the Woolwich Observer newspaper for a recent article they did about groundwater protection in California and around the world and at the same time asking why they so studiously appear to be ignoring that which is unfolding before their eyes here in Elmira, Ontario.

Dr. Holt advised that Chemtura Canada (formerly Uniroyal Chemical) in conjunction with the Ontario Ministry of Environment were refusing to do on-site source removal of contaminated soils and buried wastes which have and are negatively impacting groundwater quality here in Elmira. While Dr. Holt focused on the former Uniroyal site, I can advise that there are multiple former industrial sites in Elmira that have never been remediated and which affect our local groundwater. Yes this includes multiple local landfills which accepted (as was the norm at the time) both municipal food wastes as well as local industrial wastes, toxic or otherwise.

Does anyone in Waterloo Region seriously think that the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge with their past history of industrial manufacturing and use of solvents including benzene, toluene, xylenes , trichloroethylene (TCE) and so many more not also have ongoing contamination of groundwater due to negligent toxic waste disposal practices from the early 1900s to the 1980s?

SUCH A STROKE OF GENIUS

No I'm not so far gone as to be patting myself on the back and referring to my recent distribution of maps both electronic and hard copy version to the TAG Chair (Tiffany) and members. I have been publicly assured by Tiffany at last week's TAG meeting that the electronic copies will be sent on to both Lanxess and the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MOE/MECP). Further praise is required for Sarah (sp?) Goldrup and Lisa Schaefer. Both employees of Woolwich Township they converted my initial hard copies of both text and maps into excellent electronic versions for TAG distribution. That said, then after sending on my hard copy stuff to Lisa and Sara (sp?), I improved particularly on the Conestoga Rovers map of the east side ground surface contour lines. This I did by both handwriting the typed contour lines larger without covering up the originals as well as further clarifying the source of the bottom half of the ground surface contour lines on my large 2 1/2' x 3' map. That is why I handed out the hard copy package to TAG members Thursday despite Sara (sp?) and Lisa's excellent electronic versions delivered to TAG members well prior to the public meeting.

No the stroke of genius in the title refers to Uniroyal Chemical's initial actions in 1983 in regards to the construction of the Stroh Drain, Ditch and Berm (SDDB) followed by the likely construction of the Interceptor Trench across the north-east to south-west part of their property. My best guesstimate for the construction of the Interceptor Trench (if indeed that is what it is versus say a Permeable Reactive Barrier (PRB)) would be between 1991 and 1993 well after the construction of the SDDB.

Multiple unfolding problems were "resolved" by these relatively inexpensive projects. The chemical stinkhole and swamp on both the Stroh and Uniroyal properties could be drained into the Canagagigue Creek. It could be done so while bypassing direct discharges from the Uniroyal property that could not be kept hidden from the MOE or the public. Afterall while the regular flow of overflowing liquid wastes into and from the east side pits had fully stopped by 1970, the soils were saturated in the east side low lying areas of both the Stroh and Uniroyal properties. The SDDB would take both surface water as well as contaminated groundwater southwards into the Canagagigue Creek.

Secondly the bonded Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) such as dioxins/furans and DDT with the soils on the lowest lying areas of the Stroh property would be constantly exposed to erosion from heavy rains and regular flooding of the creek . The Berm part of the SDDB physically slowed and blocked the force of the flooding creek from sweeping across this floodplain area and scouring and carrying these contaminants downstream.

Thirdly if indeed the Interceptor Trench was designed to stop the flow of grossly contaminated groundwater westwards from the overflowing pits directly into the creek then by connecting it to the galvanized pipe discharging groundwater into the top (north) end of the SDDB a successful and hidden from the public bypass was achieved.

Fourthly and less successful may have been the attempt to avoid ever having to excavate and remove the two "Consolidation Pits" on the east side namely RPE-4 and RPE-5. If groundwater sampling on the north-east side of the creek showed little contamination (courtesy of the likely Interceptor Trench) then the rationale for very expensive full and final remediation of those two pits could be weakened. Alas it was not to be so as public scrutiny of the MOE made that impossible.

THANK YOU GROH PUBLIC SCHOOL

Dr. Dan Holt and I had an informative and enjoyable experience at Groh Public School again yesterday. We had attended there two years ago again via an invitation from teacher Ms. Alana Simpson. At that time we spoke to I believe two classes of Grade 7 children. Yesterday's chat and presentation was with approximately 70-75 kids (3 classes ?) of Grade 8s. Wow calling them kids is appropriate chronologically (13 years old?) but as Dr. Dan only slightly exaggerated when he said to me, half the kids, boys and girls, were my height. I am (was?) 6' 1 1/2" most of my life and always thought of myself as tall. Apparently not so much anymore. Anyway I will say this, those kids were very well behaved and clearly the two lady teachers present were in charge and there wasn't the least hesitation by any of the students in following all directions from them.

Dr. Dan and I had been preceded the previous week by a speaker from the Region of Waterloo who talked to the students. The speaker had talked about how and where the water gets to households in the Region and she touched upon salt as a water quality issue. Dr. Dan and I expanded somewhat on that topic both with ongoing Elmira water quality issues as well as with ongoing TCE (trichloroethylene) issues in Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo. There was some discussion regarding how both corporate money and politics overwhelms regulatory bodies (MOE/MECP) as well as local politicians. I believe that the message did get through that everybody now a days understands that an ounce of prevention/awareness is worth a pound of cure after pollution has occurred.

Dr. Dan and I each received a card and small present afterwards from the kids and greatly appreciated the opportunity to speak with them.

EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIP TODAY

Dr. Dan Holt and I are back on an environmental, classroom experience today. In the past we have spoken about Elmira water issues at Wilfred Laurier University as well as at local public schools. It's been a couple of years since our last excursion and we both are looking forward to it. Our last trip was particularly worthwhile as the kids involved (Grade 7) were well prepared ahead of time on the subject matter and had literally dozens of excellent questions for us.

As you will likely recall Dr. Holt was the Chair of the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) from 2011 until September 2015. CPAC as a committee of Council was disbanded in typical Woolwich Township amateur and nasty fashion and replaced with two brand new committees. The members of that last CPAC however changed the name to Citizens Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) and have continued on albeit in a lower key fashion with Dr. Holt still as Chair.

Today's discussion, question and answer sessions etc. will at least partially encompass our experiences, good and bad, in Elmira post "Water Crisis" but may also likely include some discussions regarding our regional water supply and treatment. While the Region of Waterloo have stepped up incredibly since the 1989 Elmira water crisis, nevertheless challenges remain. Some are being well addressed, others less so.