v/Residents with well problems push for connection to main xvater fine By JASON MISNER The Champion Frustrated residents are clamouring for Halton Rcgion to hook themn up to the lakc-based regional water supply because thc 'Big Pipe' has either contaminatcd Uieir private wells or caused a major water shortage. But Uiat would be difficuit to do, Uicy were told by regional staff at a public meeting Tucsday might. About 50 residents living along Regional Road 25 piled into Town Hail's Coundil Chambers to air conccrns Uiat Uieir well water has been compromised since thc massive 'Big Pipe' - which draws water fromn Lake Ontario to service Milton's new devclopment areas - came on line in 2000. Homeowners talkcd of how their watcr has been deemcd undrinkable by Uic Region's health dcpartmcent, and that it's sandy, murky or smdlls bad. Somne people said Uicy only use Uicir well watcr to do basic things like washing cloUica, and Uiat Uiey buy drining watcr daily at filling stations in Milton. Jack DeGroot, Who has lived aithUi corner of Regional Road and Henderson Road for 14 ycars, said hie wants to be connected to die main water line. "The watcr la going past oui doors and we want to be hookcd Up. This la ridiculous," hc aaid to loud applause. John Vitetta, who organized Uic meeting, which was co-chaired by Mayor Gord Krantz and Ward 1 Councullor Rick Day, said res- identa -along Hwy. 25 are taking Uic blunt impact for growUli and nobody is helping us out. But wc don't want to blarne anybody." In an carier interview, Patrick Murphy, Hslton's commissioner of planning and public works, said Uic Region has recognized con- struction of Uic Big Pipe disrupted private wells. Over Uic last two or so ycars, six property owners have called Uic Region about wcll problema. Wella wcre replaccd and ncw treatmcnt systeros added. Lt cost Uic Region about $50.000. The biggcst problem Uic pipe caused was Uic water shortage, hie aaid. Thas happencd because whcn Uic trench was built for Uic pipe, it,,inseceptcd"l Uic acquifer and drcw watcr away froin sanme weila. The idca was Uic watcr would rebound back to nonmal 1ev- els once Uic trench was filicd. Reaidenta aaid at Uic meeting Uiat didn't happen and Uiey Uiik Uic pipe bas affccted watcr quality. "Our objective is to solve Uicse problemai and frorn Uic work wc're doing, wc're not shying; away from Oui responsibility," MrU. Murphy aaid. Regional staff wcren't invited to Tucaday',s meeting bccause it was intended to ges people to express Uieir concerna and not to get into a blamne-gamne wiUi Uic Region. But Doug Inouye, Halton's acting director of engineering services, attendcd Uic meeting at Uic requcss of lton Chair Joyce Savoline. Ms Savoline said in an interview she asked staff to attend Uic meeting after reading an article about it in Tuesday's Champion. "I1t's always important to have staff present dia have Uic expert- Mr. Inouyc's presence provcd fruitful since hie wa akd n y questions. He took down evcrybody's names and phone numnber-, to foilow up wiUi over the next couple Of weeks to pinPOint prob. lemas and causes. Thc crowd was told Uie issue Of cOnnecting residents aloni Rcgional Road to Uic main water system isn't easy. Mr. Inouye said the area of Regional Road 25 in Milton, bctwccn Burnhamthorpe and Derry roads, fails outside the urban boundary, and that means those rural areas aren't eligible for municipal water hook-ups. That was determined through planning policies somte years ago so prevent urban sprawl. To reverse that, Halton counicil would have to make legislative changes to ailow for lake-based watcr servicing into the aiea, Mr. lnouye said. He said after the meeting the number of residents with weli problems was "a total surprise to us." He said they knew of the six individuals who contacted the Region with weli problema. He said public works staff wiil be made aware of the concerna brought up at the meeting to sec what can be donc. He notcd il would be a lot of money to replace ail of dic weils if that was to be the solution. It coss about $30 for evcsy foot of new well driilcd and a typical well is between 50 and 100 feet deep. Jason Misner can be reached at jmisner@miltoncanadian-t champion.com. The Canadian champion. Fniday, Novomber 7, 2003-9 1* b k ritremeos wiihalé w li i ilThé 005.10Brouit Scroonina Progroms providos wil cl vel i) broui oxominotion mend a ,omnsogrm t no cost t, womoo whe cri 50 yomrs of a"o or ovor. BR CA NCER Malte your appoinimont todoy.i 1-800-668-9304 Q ______ On Novomnber 101h ELECT COLIN BEST. LOCAL COUNCIL WARD 2 MILTON Informed, Involved and Hardworkîng. What do you want for the sen- iors at the Allendale Long Termn Care Facility? Check one: Halton region plans ta contract out resident care at Allendale starting this January. They won't say where they are going to stop. Don't allow care ta deteriorate at Allendale. Cail Halton Regional Chairman Joyce Savoline at 905-825-6000 and Milton Mayor Gord Krantz at 905-878-7211. Demand public hearings on plans for resident care at Allendale before changes are made. Our seniors deserve no less. A message from the concerned employees of Allendale. 4b MAPRI<. CURTrIS Councîllor Ward 2 1110 important to vote. If you need a ride, cal 905-876-3379 Ftroluin Now Todd has the business experience to manage change. He acts decisively, keeping an eye on Milton's heritage & future. tcorradetti@cogeco.ca 905-878-0838 87A Main St. N., Campbellville Cail 905-854-0446 for morek information ï e Register for classes: Hand Quilting Nov. 12 from 1:00 pmn to 3:15 pin s25.00 SiIk Ribbon Embroidery Nov. 14 from 10:00 arn - 12:15 pmn and Nov. 21 fromn 10:00 arn - 12:15 pmi $50.00 Needie Tatting Nov. 20 ftomn 7:00 pin to 9:15 Prn 125.00 Beginner Sewing Nov. 25 from 7:00 prn - 9:15 pin '25.00 Machine Quilting Nov. 27 from 10:00 arn - 3:30 pmn '50.00 Sashiko (Japanese Embroidery by Machine) Dec. 3 fromn 10:00 arn -12:15 pm and Dec. 10 fromn 10:00 arn - 12:15 pmn '50.00 Trapunto Dec. 4 fromn 10:00 arn - 3:30 150.00 Picote mu< k*fee Mr exr&.