SASKATOON – The Opposition NDP is raising concerns that contaminated groundwater, known as leachate, is leaking from the Saskatoon landfill.
New Democrat Cathy Sproule says a groundwater monitoring report indicates that the leachate has likely reached the South Saskatchewan River.
Sproule says she’s worried about the drinking water supply and people who use the river for recreation.
Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff says there is a little bit of leachate, but he also says the water quality meets provincial standards.
Cheveldayoff says the way to deal with the problem is by building what is called an interceptor well.
He says two interceptors have already helped and another one is scheduled to be built this year.
Mark Rogstad, a spokesman for the City of Saskatoon, said in an email Wednesday afternoon that a groundwater monitoring report done in 2012 says leachate greater than 100 milligrams per litre “may” have reached the river.
“The City provides groundwater quality reports to the Ministry of Environment every year. The City hopes this information helps clarify any questions the public might have about the questions raised this afternoon in the legislature,” Rogstad said.
This is a corrected story. An earlier version incorrectly quoted Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff as saying one receptor had been built, when in fact he said two.
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