WATCH: For years, residents in Harrietsfield have been worried about their drinking water, an order to clean up a defunct recycling and demolition plant was issued in 2010, but cleanup hasn’t started. Marieke Walsh reports on why there are delays.
HALIFAX – Well-water close to a defunct recycling plant on Old Sambro Road is at the centre of a war of words between the environment minister and some Harrietsfield residents.
Marlene Brown, lives within 500 metres of the shut-down RDM Recycling site, she said contaminants leaching into groundwater make it unsafe.
“It’s not potable, the system I have only takes out certain things.”
Evidence from the environment department in 2010, shows chemicals in some wells close to the recycling plant exceed Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines. The evidence, presented in court documents, said it’s “very likely” or “likely” the chemicals are a result of waste water from the recycling plant. Eight properties, including Marlene Brown’s were put in one of those two categories. Since then the wells have been tested four times a year.
A 2010 ministerial order from the Nova Scotia Environment ordered three companies and two individuals that had operated the site in the past to clean it up. One of the companies challenged it in court but Justice Joshua Arnold upheld the order in his decision released on May 6. He said the section that called for the site clean-up had to be reviewed by the minister with more evidence put forward.
Environment department staff are collecting the additional evidence, said Minister Randy Delorey. Once he receives the information he will make a decision on the next steps for the site. However, he said no interim measures need to be taken to ensure residents have access to safe drinking water because their tap water is safe.
“The companies involved have been monitoring, and continue to submit the test results, both pre and post the treatment systems to ensure the safe drinking water is available.”
The court evidence suggests that’s not true, said Ecojustice Lawyer Kaitlyn Mitchell.
“There is no doubt, based on the information that was on the court record, there’s indications that there is real cause for alarm. We’re talking about substances that have serious human health risks, like lead and arsenic.”
Another property affected by chemicals from the recycling plant was owned by Melissa King. After only drinking bottled water for more than three years and showering at the houses of friends and family she decided to declare bankruptcy and move. Brown said King would not have declared bankruptcy and moved if she could safely drink the water.
“For the minister to say that we can drink our water, I invite him here to have a glass of water from my tap,” said Brown. “Out of 365 days of the year my water is tested four times a year, so for 361 days a year nobody knows whats coming into the wells.”
Brown and King sent a letter to Delorey asking for a meeting in May. Delorey said Thursday he received the letter and will meet with them once he has decided on the next steps for the site clean up.
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