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Back to HomeLetters - January 15, 2009Letters: January 15
Sydenham Water Works? Not! David Waugh
Rural Generousity, Lynda Price
No Hydro, No Phone, No 911, Brian Moffit
He Shoots, He Scores, John McEwen
Sydenham Water Works? Not!
By now, everyone has heard about the infamous Sydenham Water Plant. But here is what it feels like to be one of the people on the “faucet end” of this debacle.
The original estimate was $5.8 million with the township paying $870,000. Final costs were $7.6 million and the township and people’s cost was approximately $2.4 million (almost triple the original estimate!). The hook-up costs (the costs to connect from the property line to your basement) are estimated to have cost an additional $1 million to the people (ours was over $5,000 to drill through 40 feet of rock). The annual operating costs are $500 per household (which is not sufficient to cover operating and replacement costs in the long run.). Adding insult to injury, the plant was “mistakenly” designed to be over twice the size we need because the engineer didn’t use local regional water consumption patterns to estimate properly, in spite of that data being readily available.
Remember, from the beginning, 92% of the people of Sydenham told council not to build this plant, but to use point of entry purification instead. Then the province did a study that recommended new water and sewage plants should be built for no less than 10,000 customers because they are not economical. Sydenham has one for about 300. Ok, we shouldn’t have built it in the first place, it’s outrageously expensive, it will get even more expensive over time, and it is over twice the size we need. But the plant is in, and we have to live with (and pay for) it. Except that this gold plated Cadillac water plant has been running for 28 months and can’t produce water that meets the Provincial Drinking Water Standard. The Trihalomethane (THM) level has exceeded the standard from day one.
At first we were told to use more water to solve the problem. It turns out the problem is not from lack of use, but in the plant itself. So who is responsible and paying for this unmitigated disaster? You would think that for $7.6 million the engineer would have done extensive testing of the lake water over time and designed a system that could produce water within the government standards. You would also think the Ministry of Environment (MOE) would prevent this from happening.
How does this happen? The engineer made mistakes, the MOE approved it all, the health unit encouraged the township to put it in, the township made the decision to build it, and 92% of the people said don’t do it. So, who do you think is going to pay the estimated additional $1.4 million to fix this apparent design flaw? The engineer? The MOE? The health unit? Or the people? You guessed right. Would you like a glass of water to help wash that bad taste from your mouth? Wait, that water is the bad taste.
David Waugh, Sydenham
Rural Generousity
After five years of serving two local United Church congregations (St. Paul's in Harrowsmith and Trinity in Verona), I should not be surprised by the generosity and caring spirit of the people in these communities. They truly are wonderful and this has been affirmed for me during this past Christmas season.
This year, our congregations provided Christmas hampers and food for several more days for 30 local families. As well, warm winter clothing and/or boots were provided for 16 local youth. Our congregation’s members willingly and enthusiastically provided groceries, clothing, mitts, etc. for this project.
Many community groups and organizations supported us and I want to thank them for their generous and kind support. We are truly blessed to live in the Harrowsmith-Verona area. Rural folk surely have the biggest hearts! Thank you and may God bless you all!
Rev. Lynda M. PriceHarrowsmith-Verona Pastoral Charge
No Hydro, No Phone, No 911
Almost everyone in eastern Ontario experienced the extended power outage between Christmas and New Year’s. I am a fairly new resident on Canonto Lake and intend to retire here permanently in March. Homes in my area around Ompah were without hydro for almost 48 hours and without phone or 911 service for half that time. In reading the January 8 Ompah column of the Frontenac News I was astounded to find out that the failure of the phone system and thus the loss of 911 emergency services were due simply to a lack of sufficient backup battery power at Bell’s Ompah sub-station.
I can’t imagine such an excuse exists for a dead phone system, which in effect cancels all fire, ambulance or police protection for 24 hours during a time of crisis. I am not a technician but surely Bell Canada has the technology to solve this problem. Given North Frontenac Township’s mandate to provide personal and property protection, those responsible for emergency services must have the sense to know that the probability of fire, medical or police emergencies increases at least fifty-fold during bad weather and power outages. Downed and dangerous power lines, heavy use of wood stoves, extra physical stress carrying water and wood, use of candles and kerosene lamps, risks of falling, and extreme driving conditions all contribute to the increased potential for the need of a phone and 911 service.
Shouldn’t it be a matter of course that this situation is fixed immediately? Let’s not wait for a medical emergency to take a life or burn down someone’s home before someone responsible at Bell, the township or county will guarantee extended emergency backup of the phone system and 911 service during power outages. Residents around Ompah know they are protected by a quality Volunteer Fire Department for fire and medical emergencies but if truth were told the slogan “911 SAVES LIVES” needs the additional words “IF YOUR PHONE WORKS”.
Brian Moffitt, Kanata
He Shoots, He Scores
My congratulations to Francis MacDonald (Arden), he has explained Canadian parliamentary democracy perfectly. If I understand the letter to the editor correctly you're saying that every game has its own set of rules, be it hockey or politics, and that the "game" should be played by the rules.
So, if the NHL’s most sacred, fundamental and never ever to be broken rule was that the Detroit Red Wings had to maintain the confidence of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens in order to keep the cup, then if they lost that confidence Detroit would have to forfeit the cup. Now I get it. Thanks.
John McEwen, Verona
