Sydenham Water Safe, But Still Needs Upgrade

Jeff Green | Jan 15, 2009

Dr. Ian Gemmill, the head of KFL&A Public Health, reiterated his assurances that Sydenham water is safe to drink “in the short and long term” despite the fact that levels for trihalomethanes (THMs) are well above acceptable limits.

On the other hand Jim Mahoney from Environment Canada said that the problem needs to be dealt with, and this could happen before the end of 2009.

The solution could cost as much as $1.4 million, and even though Mahoney said he is optimistic that a federal grant under the Build Canada Fund would fund the project, Sydenham residents will likely be paying for a share of the upgrade to the two-year-old plant.

Sydenham Water was the subject of a public meeting at the South Frontenac Township office last Thursday night, January 8, and members of the Sydenham Safe Water Association (SSWA) asked a series of pointed questions to a panel that included Gemmill and Mahoney, as well as plant manager Kevin Riley from Kingston Utilities, and Mayor Gary Davison.

Many of the questions centered on the health risks posed by the chemical compound, which form when organic matter is exposed to chlorine.

“It is important to recognize that the weight of evidence is important. At one point second-hand smoke looked harmless. Eventually the weight of evidence demonstrated harm. We are not at that stage with THMs,” Dr. Gemmill said, “but standards are established for a reason and it is important to work towards compliance.”

The latest quarterly levels from the Sydenham plant show THM levels at 154 micrograms per litre, and although the levels vary by season (they are lower in winter and higher in summer), they have persistently been higher than the 100 mcg/litre that is the provincial standard, a standard that will be reduced to 80 mcg/litre in the near future.

“The standards are based on what we call a 'no effect level' on laboratory animals.” Gemmill explained. “The standards are also based in the modeling of consumption over 70 years, and there is a huge precautionary safety factor. When weighted against the real risk from bacterial contamination, such as ‘e-coli’, which makes water unsafe, the treated water as it is produced today is a major improvement for Sydenham.”

Gemmill came under repeated questioning from SSFA Association members Julie Doyle, Cathie Waugh, and Bob Forbes over his assertion that the water in Sydenham is safe to drink. They asked in particular whether a woman puts her or her unborn child at risk by drinking water with high THM levels.

“If a woman is worried, she shouldn’t drink the water, because the worry itself can be harmful,” Gemmill said.

“There was one study, from Nova Scotia, admittedly only with a thousand women, but it showed an increase in the number of still births,” said Wilma Kenny.

“Yes, I do recall that study”, Gemmill said.

THMs have been an issue at other locations in Ontario as well, and they have been dealt with through water plant upgrades.

“There are 72 water plants in my jurisdiction of Eastern Ontario,” Mahoney, a 25-year employee of the MoE said, “and Sydenham is not the only one that has had a similar problem. We have been able to deal with this in Carleton Place, Deep River, and Plantagenet, and an upgrade in Smiths Falls is scheduled for this year.”

The planned upgrade comes only months after residents were charged an average of $5,000 per property for their share of the cost of building the plant.

It also comes after the plant operator, Kingston Utilities, tried at least two other measures to see if the THM levels could be reduced, but only had “marginal success” according to Kevin Riley.

“I would like to say that apart from the THM situation it is a lovely little plant that is a pleasure to operate,” Riley added.

Mayor Davison implied that the municipal share of the $1.4 million, which could be several hundred thousand dollars, will likely be borne by Sydenham ratepayers rather than ratepayers from throughout the township of South Frontenac.

“We have never said that the cost would be spread throughout the township, but that decision will be at the will of Council, ” he said, adding, “I have only one vote. Don't forget I live in Sydenham and I am personally on the hook for this as well.”

David Waugh, an outspoken member of the Sydenham Safe Water Association, a citizens’ group that formed several years ago and has been critical of the water project from the start, wondered how it is that treatment for THMs was not included in the initial design of the plant. “The MoE approved the plant design despite the fact that you had a history of systems that overrode the THM levels. You had ample evidence that there were plants with high THM levels, and knew that when you use chlorine and surface water we get this high THM level ... Is the MoE not culpable for what is going on here?”

Jim Mahoney explained that the MoE does approve water plant designs through the approvals branch. “But we don’t re-engineer projects,” he said.

“What part does the consulting engineer play in all this?” asked Sydenham resident Alistair Lamb.

“The people that designed the system under-estimated the level of dissolved organics. I know the township has looked at that,” said Mahoney.

The engineering company that designed the system, Totten Sims Hubicki (TSM) was not represented at the meeting. Mayor Davison said the township has “differences of opinion” with TSM on the matter, but said he could “say no more” about it at this time.

Bob Forbes said that the Sydenham Safe Water Association would like to make sure that communication between residents and the township does not break down, and that “we need to reconvene the Water Steering Committee to improve government- civilian relations.”

“I’ll bring that forward to council,” said Davison.