Lake Erie, the source water for the Chatham-Kent Municipal water system has developed an algae bloom again.
Lake Erie’s algal bloom has returned as a result of naturally occurring cyanobacteria fueled into overdrive due to a combination of warm water, sunshine and nutrients that come from agricultural runoff, sewage and industrial waste.
In a motion at Monday night’s council meeting it was asked that, “The Ontario and Federal governments be requested to be leaders in the development and implementation of action plans that will protect drinking water and effectively address algal blooms and protect and restore the health of Lake Erie.”
When the rural citizens asked for support from council for well problems caused destruction of our aquifer by the installation and operation of turbines, they were given none.
As an additional insult, they voted to invest $8,000,000 in the very cause of the aquifer problems which is making the water undrinkable.
I am not saying that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change should not be asked and challenged to investigate the Lake Erie algae bloom, but they seem to be an almost useless Ministry as they have done very little to investigate the well problems.
I suppose that Council could have elected to shut down the water treatment plant until the algae bloom dissipates in a few days, weeks or years which would have been similar to the actions taken to protect the rural aquifer, the source water for rural wells.
It seems strange that Council will ask the Ontario and Federal Governments to challenge “Mother Nature” in the case of an mostly urban water crisis, but will not challenge wind companies that destroy the aquifer that is source water for rural residents.
The rural residents are the same ones that had their taxes raised by a significantly higher rate than any other segment in the Municipality.
When Council elects to do something for one group of citizens and not the other, they are designating the rural dwellers as second class citizens.
Peter Hensel
Dover Centre
– Submitted photo
