A gradual return for some Wheatley residents, forced from their homes because of a mysterious gas leak.
First discovered on June 2nd, officials say levels of harmful hydrogen sulphide dropped off significantly just two days later.
Chatham-Kent CAO Don Shropshire says the municipality has been working with various provincial government and industry experts for the last two and a half weeks.
“We believe the municipality has done everything that has been recommended or would be considered a best practice to not only secure the safety of our citizens and their properties, but also to do whatever was reasonable to remediate the threat of the gas leak.”
The majority of those affected have now been allowed back onto their properties, with the exception of 15 Erie Street North and 9 Talbot Street where gas monitoring will continue for several days.
In terms of compensation, Shropshire says all impacted residents and business owners have been encouraged to get in touch with their respective insurance agencies to discuss potential next steps.
Provincial and industry experts have said the source of the leak may never be known. If it’s determined the source of the gas was an abandoned gas well on a specific property, the burden of responsibility lies with that property owner.
“If we found out the gas well was on municipal property, we’d be responsible. If it’s on one of their properties, they would be responsible. The challenge is we have never identified the source,” Shropshire says. “There’s also no guarantee it came from an abandoned gas well, there are several other possibilities. We’ve got deposits in our geology that could have created the same type of conditions.”
Firefighters remained on scene throughout the weekend, conducting gas readings to allow other residents and business owners to get back into their properties. Fire Chief Chris Case says with full-time and volunteer fire fighters on scene since June 2nd, it’s likely the longest-running incident Chatham-Kent has ever dealt with.
Social Service caseworkers and waste management staff were also on hand over the weekend to help those affected.