Municipal drain weed control got underway across Chatham-Kent last week.
Municipal officials say under the Provincial Drainage Act, the municipality has the responsibility to repair and maintain municipal drains.
Ensuring water flow by periodically removing debris and weed control is part of that responsibility.
Municipal drains provide drainage outlets to most areas of Chatham-Kent, Municipal officials say.
Licensed weed-control contractors are currently spraying municipal drains in some areas of the municipality.
This process is necessary to control weed and invasive species growth within drains.
Targeted weed spraying efforts extend the timeframe between more costly and disruptive drain bottom cleanouts.
Contractors employed by the municipality have met governmental licencing requirements for handling and using chemicals used for the above mentioned purposes.
Chatham-Kent has over 4,000 municipal drains with a length of approximately 3,800 kilometers (20 per cent of the provincial total) as well as 160 pumping stations that protect large portions of the municipality from flooding.
Anyone concerned about such spraying should contact the municipality at 519-360-1998.
