There's plenty of opposition from Wallaceburg area residents when it comes to changing the source of their drinking water.
As it stands right now, the region receives its water from the St. Clair River, but the system needs an upgrade. The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is considering different supply options, including a plan that would pump water from Lake Erie, through the Chatham treatment plant, up to the Wallaceburg area.
About 60 people, some of them vocal, attended last night's public information meeting, including the town's former water commissioner, William Currier. "I was just really disappointed that the municipality never considered moving the water from Wallaceburg to Chatham, it was just considered to take Chatham water and make it be the answer for Wallaceburg, yet it's already been proven by science and through many consultants that Lake St. Clair water, at this present time, is a more viable and more healthy option," says Currier.
Henrie Timmers, who was also at the meeting, agrees. "There's a petition that we've had online for four or five months, and people are saying they don't want Lake Erie water. When you take everything else away, it comes down to we don't want that water."
A 40-year outlook projects rehabbing the existing water treatment plant would cost $67-million while connecting to the Chatham drinking water system would cost $37-million. PUC officials are still evaluating the options and no decision has been made.
