Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath visited Chatham families at the farm of Dave Lusk last week.
Lusk’s well water, and the well water of the other families that joined, became black when pile driving construction began at Samsung’s North Kent One wind turbine site, Ontario NDP officials say.
“What I saw (on April 4) was outrageous,” Horwath said in a press release.
“Dave and his family have lived on that farm for generations and never had an issue with water quality before the pile driving began nearby. These families deserve for their government to take this seriously – Kathleen Wynne needs to direct her ministry of health to complete a health hazard investigation at the contaminated wells immediately.”
Ontario NDP officials say Samsung had provided the affected families with a temporary water source, but the tanks are now slowly being removed from affected farms.
Lusk says that he has purchased a new water tank – at a cost of over $1,200.
In addition to the cost of the tank, he expects to pay another $400 to hook it up to the plumbing system in his home and $60 every two weeks to keep the tank full.
“What used to cost Dave $10 per month will now cost him $120 per month, just so he can have drinkable water at home,” Horwath said.
“That’s no way for people to live. It’s ludicrous that Kathleen Wynne is allowing these families to go without safe drinking water.”
Ontario NDP officials say residents have had the black water collected and analyzed by scientific experts who have found the water contains Black Shale sediment.
Black Shale is a known environmental hazard because it contains heavy metals which can be released into a person’s body if the water is ingested.
Residents have had trouble getting the Wynne Liberals to take the issue seriously.
Some farmers have reported that they are so reluctant to use this contaminated water that they are feeding their livestock bottled water instead, Ontario NDP officials say.
Party officials say the Ontario NDP has committed to developing an Ontario Water Strategy if elected in June.
Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath says the strategy will be based on the principle that the public should have access to clean water for drinking, sanitation and food.
Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. and Pattern Energy Group LP announced on Monday that the North Kent Wind project is full operational. Read more, here.
– Photo credit: Ontario NDP
