Paul Brooks of Brook Line in Dresden examines a series of well water samples he collected prior to his water turning cloudy in July 2017.
Paul Brooks of Brook Line in Dresden examines a series of well water samples he collected prior to his water turning cloudy in July 2017. (Photo: Moréna McDonald)

After a press conference at the Brooks family residence on Brook Line outside Dresden last week, Water Wells First is demanding North Kent Wind provide the family with a water tank.

The family says their well’s sediment traps suddenly became clogged last week, and water stopped coming out of the taps at a normal rate.

According to Water Wells First and Pattern Energy, Aecom staff visited the home, and released a statement shortly after, claiming there were no issues with the well, and they “were able to run a faucet continuously with no issues. The sample was visually clear and colorless with no visible sediment” (Jody Law, Senior Manager of Development, North Kent Wind Project).

Water Wells First Spokesperson Kevin Jakubec says this statement is misleading. Jakubec says the turbidity tests taken on Tuesday, August 1st by an MOECC Provincial Officer showed a result of 86.8 NTU, which is a measurement of cloudiness in water.

The Brooks Family previously conducted independent testing of their well water to achieve a baseline of 2.84 NTU.

Jakubec says their well water became 30 times more turbid in a short span of time, just after pile driving for wind turbines began at two nearby sites.

“The Brooks family is demanding that North Kent Wind provide them with a water tank immediately, as in the permit conditions in the REA permit from North Kent Wind 1, so that this family’s quality of life isn’t suffering”, says Jakubec.

Jakubec says the conditions can be found in section g6 of the permit.

“They’ve got no water. This company did not provide them with water. The conditions in the permit are clear”, Jakubec says.

Jakubec made the statements via phone to the 99.1 newsroom on Friday, August 4th, at 5:15pm.