The mayor of Pelee Island says storm-damaged water wells are causing problems for residents.
A rain and wind storm not only created shoreline erosion on the island but also damaged a group of water wells, leading to problems for the island's year-round residents.
Pelee Island Mayor Rick Masse tells BlackburnNews.com the problem became apparent during the last storm, and when the rain and wind subsided, the damage was evident.
"I'd seen some wells where the crocks were broken right off and smashed, so they'll have to be replaced," says Masse. "There's quite a number of wells that had filled up with sand, so they're inoperable."
The wells on the island consist of concrete crocks about three feet in diameter and set in the ground on the shore of Lake Erie. Under normal circumstances, clear water is filtered from the lake through the sand.
The majority of the damaged wells are on the eastern beaches of the island. Masse says when the water levels went up during the storm, the wells became overwhelmed and sand churned up with it. Once a well is caked with sand, a portion of the water supply is cut.
Masse says the elevated water level has the year-round residents nervous.
"The lake is very, very powerful, and the water is extremely high," says Masse. "It's the highest I've ever seen it. The waves crash over the shore protection like it isn't even there, and it sends 10 to 12-inch sized blocks up onto the road. It's pretty amazing how powerful it is."
Masse says that due to the island's limited financial position, the call has been put out to the Ontario government for help, but the municipality has been calling for action on the wells and shoreline erosion for some time.
Most of these wells are on private property and are the responsibility of the property owners. However, Masse says there is short-term help on the way to the island.
"[The Ontario legislature] provided us with some funding to do risk and hazard assessment, to identify the most critical areas of our shore protection that need repair right away, so the island doesn't flood," he says.
