TOTTENHAM MUNICIPAL WATER
HAS TESTED ABOVE MAXIMUM LEVELS FOR
TRIHALOMETHANES & IRON
FOR OVER 19 YEARS!
Media Coverage & Articles and Information related to Tottenham
Please take the time to inform yourselves about our water issue. It is important that you are aware of the information and research that is available to all of us.
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These are the issues:
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Tottenham water has tested above maximum levels for IRON & TRIHALOMETHANES for most of the last 20 years.
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Tottenham uses well water that has high levels of organic matter and iron. In order to erase the possibility of harmful organisms entering our drinking water, the water is treated with high levels of chlorine. When the chlorine reacts with the organic matter, it creates a byproduct called TRIHALOMETHANES.
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TRIHALOMETHANES are carcinogens that are known to cause cancer, stillbirths and/or miscarriges.
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High IRON levels cause discoloured laundry, stained water fixtures and frequent and costly water filter changes.
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It has been 19 years since Tottenham was told it would be receiving its water by pipeline from the Collingwood Water Treatment Facility. Alliston and Beeton have had the pipeline for years.
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Tottenham pays the same water rates as Alliston and Beeton. But Tottenham receives water that is often brown and contains above maximum acceptable levels of TRIHALOMETHANES. Alliston and Beeton receive water that is safe, clean and clear. They do not need to purchase personal water filtration systems and continue to replace the filters before they are due in order to have clear and safe water for individual residences.
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Even if New Tecumseth Council votes to improve our water situation, we are still years away from any resolution.
THE CAMPAIGN
The following is a link to the Final Report dated June 30, 2016
What New Tecumseth Town Council and Every Town Council Should have done when THMs exceeded the National Standard!
Adverse Drinking Water Incident, Boil Water Advisory and Drinking Water Advisory - How are they different?
An adverse water quality incident (AWQI) indicates that a drinking water standard has been exceeded or a problem has arisen within a drinking water system. AWQIs are an important component of the drinking water safety net. The report of an AWQI does not in itself indicate that drinking water is unsafe or that the statutory standard of care has not been met, but rather that an incident has occurred and corrective actions must be taken to protect the public. In some cases, these corrective actions may include a boil water advisory (BWA) or a drinking water advisory (DWA).
The local Medical Officer of Health in each of Ontario’s 36 public health units is responsible for issuing BWAs and DWAs when necessary.
A BWA is issued when a condition exists with a drinking water supply that may result in a health risk and the condition can be corrected by boiling the water or by disinfection. An example is the presence of bacteria in the water supply such as E. coli.
A DWA is issued when a condition exists with a drinking water supply that cannot be corrected by boiling the water or by disinfection. An example is the presence of chemical contaminants.
In both cases, the local Medical Officer of Health will direct the system owner to inform users of the advisory, through means such as door-to-door notification, public posting of notices and local media outlets, to boil water and/or use an alternate water supply until further notice. An advisory will be lifted only after the local Medical Officer of Health is satisfied that corrective actions were taken and the situation is remedied.
