HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-20-87 ""' TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
REPORT
F i 1 e #
By-Law #
NESTING: THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
DATE: MARCH 2, 1987
REPORT #: WD-20-87 FILE #:
SUB-ECT: WATER TROUGH HILL - TYRONE SPRING
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended:
1 . That this report be received; and,
2. That Mr. Lott, Lott Well Cleaning, Enniskillen, Ontario, be thanked
for his personal contribution toward restoring the quality of water
to a standard acceptable to the Regional Health Department and safe
for consumption.
BACKGROUND:
Resolution GPA-907-86 directed that the Director of Public Works report to
the General Purpose and Administration Committee on the status of the pipe
and the quality of the water at Water Trough Hill . Report WD-81-86 was
prepared advising the G.P.A.C. that the water had been tested by the
Regional Health Unit and was unfit for drinking. Subsequently, upon
notification, the pipe was removed to restrict the use of the spring and the
Health Unit agreed that water testing would be done regularly and in the
event that the results were consistently good, the Town would be notified.
. . .2
Page 2
Report No. WD-20-87
REPORT:
Following advice from the Regional Health Department, the pipe at Water
Trough Hill was removed to restrict would be users and a sign was posted
advising that the water was unfit for drinking.
The spring has since been cleaned of dirt and silt that had accumulated and
was probably responsible for the contamination. A Road Occupancy Permit was
issued to allow Mr. Lott to perform the necessary work which was completed
at no expense to the Town. The Regional Health Department was then advised
and have since monitored the quality of the water on a regular basis. We
have today received notification from the Regional Health Department that
the quality of the water is now acceptable for drinking. The Public Works
Department is now in a position to remove the warning sign and reinstall the
pipe.
Soon after the warning sign was posted at the spring, Mr. Lott contacted the
Public Works Department and very generously offered his services to clean
the spring and remove debris which he suggested could be the problem. Upon
completion of the work, he advised the Works Department and we requested
that the Public Health Department monitor the quality of the water as agreed
and advise the Town when it was considered safe. The Regional Health
Department has since confirmed that the water is now safe for consumption.
. . . .3
Page 3
Report No. WD-20-87
Many residents who used the spring on a regular basis expressed concern that
the spring water was not suitable for drinking. However, due to Mr. Lott' s
efforts the spring water is now satisfactory for consumption. It is,
therefore, recommended that Mr. Lott be advised that the spring is once
again usable and be thanked for his contribution in restoring the spring for
public use.
Respect ully submitt d, Recommended for presentation,
to the Committee,
Gordon J. Ough, P. �ng. , Lawrence/E/".KotsefDirector of Public Works. Chief Adminstrative Officer.
:j co
February 24, 1987.
TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
REPORT File #
Res. #
By-Law #
MEETING: THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
.DATE: OCTOBER 20, 1986
REPORT #: WD-81-86 FILE #:
SUBJECT:
WATER TROUGH HILL - TYRONE SPRING
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is -respectfully recommended:
That Report WD-81-86 be received for information.
REPORT:
At the__Genera_l-. Purpose _&,-Administ rat ion-Committee 'Meeting of October 6,
1986, Resolution GPA-907=86 was passed requesting the Director of Public
Works to.`investigate the status of the pipe (referred to in the attached
letter from A.R. Robinson,- Chief Public Health Inspector, Regional
Municipality of Durham) to consult with the Health Unit and report back to
G.P.A.C.
Page 2
Report No. WD-81-86
Many years ago private citizens installed some wooden troughing and pipe
work into a natural spring on the north side of Concession Road 8 in the
vicinity of Lot 4 to allow easy access to the spring's water. Many people
came from far and wide to get spring water for drinking water. Residents in
the immediate area used the spring water in the winter during power failures
and it is reported that one resident hauled water from the spring all year
for drinking purposes and that one nearby resident had run a pipe from the
i
spring to fill the swimming pool in the spring.
Upon receipt of the letter of September 29, 1986, from the Durham Region
Health Unit, Public Works personnel installed a sign displaying said letter
as well as a notice from the Health Unit indicating that the water was not
fit for human consumption. The pipe was cut off at ground level leaving a
threaded section upon which to reinstall the pipe upon receipt of
author-ization to do so from the Health Unit.
The local .Health Inspector (623-2511) has indicated that periodic checks of
the spring have been carried out for some time and until late this summer
had tested .well . The inspector agreed to continue to check the water
periodically and has indicated that upon receipt of the first good result,
will run-a series of tests over the following two week period and .if the
results are consistently good he will notify the Town.
. . .3
Page 3
Report No. WD-81-86
During discussions with one of the nearby residents a comment to the effect
that "we've been drinking the water for a long time and nothing has
happened" was stated. When it was explained that the water was safe up
until September '86 and now the quality of the water is different than it
was, the resident seemed willing to accept the actions of the Town in
removing the pipe.
Council will be kept informed of any plans to reinstall the pipe at Water
Trough Hill
Respectfully submitted,
Gordon J. Ough, P. Eng.
Director of Public Works.
GJO:jco
October 14, 1986.
DURHAM September 29, 1986
The Regional
Municipality
of Durham Mr. Gordon Ough
Director
DEPARTMENT OF Public Works Department
HEALTH SERVICES Town of Newcastle
HEADQUARTERS: Hampton, Ontario
301 Golf Street,
Oshawa,Ontario, Dear Sir
Canada, L1G 462.
(416)723-8521.
J.K.GRAY,M.D.C.M.,M.P.H., Re: Tyrone Spring
Medical Officer of Health, North Side of the 8th Concession Road in the
Vicinity of Lot 4 on Town of Newcastle Road Allowance
Samples of water taken at this spring indicate that the water is
unsafe for human consumption.
In view of this we require that the spring be made inaccessible to
the public. Towards this end the pipe must be removed from the
ground immediately, thus eliminating public access to this water
supply.
Your immediate co-operation in eliminating this health hazard will
be greatly appreciated.
Yours truly,
H.R. Robinson, C.P.H.I. (C)
Chief Public Health Insrector
Environmental Health Services
HRR/jl
HAND DELIVERED