Manitouwadge Public Works Superintendent “Not Aware” of Rumoured Sewage Bed Collapse?
MANITOUWADGE, ON – OntarioNewsNorth.com has received many inqueries from concerned residents in regards to what is believed to have been a collapse in the wall of the township’s ‘old sewage bed’ on Industrial Road (a.k.a. Caramat Road).
This article must begin with a note to clarify that: OntarioNewsNorth.com does NOT as of this time have any official information from the Township of Manitouwadge, nor from Council, in regards to what may, or may not, have happened at the old sewage bed as, in spite of multiple voice mail messages being left with both Mayor John MacEachern and Public Works Superintendent Omer Collin (the 1st of these a week ago Monday, September 10th) no response had been received. Editor Karina Hunter was able to finally connect with Mr. Collin today, Monday September 17th, when she called him at the Township. Unfortunately, Mr. Collin claimed Hunter’s messages had not clearly expressed the need for information; during the conversation Mr. Collin also suggested he was not aware of a problem occurring with the old sewage bed telling Ms. Hunter he had “No idea what you are talking about” and suggesting that she “Call Council that [answering questions] is what they are paid for” before abruptly ending the call. Because of the inability to confirm details, or acquire any additional specifics from the Superintendent or Mayor in regards to what, if anything, happened at the old sewage bed, all information shared below is speculation as could best be ascertained through the observations of the residents who submitted it, along with their questions and concerns, to OntarioNewsNorth.com
Around the middle of August, a pair of residents were travelling on Industrial Road when they noticed an odor, “the smell was so bad , sickening , the first thing we both thought of was sewage” was one description provided to OntarioNewsNorth.com via email.
The following evening the pair drove by, what they believe to be the area where the Township has an “old sewage bed” and say the smell had become worse. August 21st they emailed a member of council to inquire and were told the Public Works Superintendent had been advised of the situation. It is believed that soil and/or water samples were sent to the Thunder Bay District Health Unit which returned showing no cause for concern, allegedly the collapse had not caused and/or permitted any toxins to enter the town water supply (or at least not in any way or quantity which would require water boiling or other precautions). **Again it is important to note that the Public Works Superintendent has refused to comment or clarify which, if any, samples were tested.
Many reports we have received then go on to describe seeing, in the days that followed, trucks pumping from the site on Caramat Road and what they believed to be pumping also taking place at the pump house behind the old high school. Those sending concerns via email have pondered whether old sewage was possibly being pumped to be processed through the current sewage treatment system and, if so, does this create any issues for the current sewer system such as premature filling or aging? There are also questions regarding possible delays between when the smell was first noticed and when digging or pumping was seen happening at the site which could have been up to a week later, and whether this delay caused increased potential for seepage of pollutants into the soil. Additionally it has been alleged by several sources that a Township Department head had denied problems with the old sewage bed and suggested the issue was that of a water main bursting.
Among the questions OntarioNewsNorth.com has for either Mr. Collin or Mayor MacEachern should they become available for an interview at some future date;
- Why was there no press release issued in regards to either a ‘sewage bed wall collapse’ or whatever had caused the troubling odours ?
- What is it that took place at the old sewage bed?
- When was the foul odour first noticed or reported?
- When did the township begin looking into the reported odour?
- What was done to correct any situation that existed? (description with timeline of how this unfolded)
- What was the final cost of repair or clean-up if such occurred?
- Where will the funds for these costs be coming from? (Does an emergency fund for this sort of situation exist and if so does it still have funds remaining should there be any other problems?)
- Was there any sewage transferred into the current sewer system and if so will that adversely affect the expected longevity of the system?
- Is there protocol in place for department heads to better communicate similar situations with the public in the future?
If you have additional questions you would like to have asked of Mr. Collin or Mayor MacEachern should they provide OntarioNewsNorth.com with an interview opportunity or if you have comments please share them below.
**Please note: Comments personally attacking any individual will NOT be published, comments of racist/ageist/discriminating nature will NOT be published. See ‘Letters to the Editor’ (click) for more information on submitting comments/articles.
