Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP and provincial cabinet minister Monte McNaughton has announced his party is keeping its election promise to look into contaminated water wells in Chatham-Kent.
The issue dates back to wind projects in 2011 and 2012, and has dragged on far too long.
“We appointed, back in 2019, a five-person independent expert panel of scientists and geologists,” McNaughton says. “They’re going to undertake this study of nearly 200 water wells in Chatham-Kent and even some in Lambton County as well.”
The Panel consists of two toxicologists, an environmentalist health scientist, an epidemiologist who specializes in exposure measurement, and local geologist Dr. Keith Benn.
McNaughton first announced a health hazard investigation was being launched in July, 2019. Then last March, just before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, McNaughton said an RFP had been issued to hire a company to do the testing.
“We’re moving forward as quickly as possible on this, there’s been a contractor chosen and it’s my understanding in the coming days, homeowners will be contacted, and in the weeks and months ahead there will be testing of the nearly 200 homes impacted.”
Englobe Corporation has been selected to execute well water and sediment sample collection and testing.
They expect to start contacting residents and be in the field by late January.
To address delays in the original timeline, due to the pandemic, the term of the expert panel has been extended by one year – ending December 31, 2021.