FORT FRANCES—The town still needs 10 more households to participate in water testing, and with the aim to start its testing program this month, is now offering a $50 incentive to get more people to sign up.
Those who participate in the water testing program, and agree to allow the town’s water operators to come into their home twice a year for the next two years to collect water samples that eventually will be analyzed for lead, will receive a voucher for $50 to be used to pay for any service provided by any department within the town, Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown said at Monday night’s council meeting.
The possible uses range from buying “bag tags” to paying for tipping fees at the landfill or membership fees at the Sportsplex to helping cover tax or water and sewer bills.
The only exception is the voucher cannot be used towards a Fort Frances Power Corp. hydro bill.
The cost of the vouchers will be funded through the water budget under the water distribution system maintenance account.
The town needs a total of 40 households to participate in the water testing, noted Brown. Vouchers also will be given to the 30 households that already have signed up.
Brown said the vouchers will be distributed on a first-to-call, first-to-receive basis by contacting the Operations and Facilities division at 274-9893.
Under the new provincial water legislation Reg. 170/03, the town must test for lead using water samples from 40 residential properties, four non-residential properties, and eight distribution system outlets (fire hydrants).
The first period of testing will run from Dec. 15-April 15, 2008. A second round will take place from June 15-Oct. 15.
All test results will be provided to each homeowner free of charge.
There is no cost for the testing—residents just have to allow a town water operator into their dwelling for up to 45 minutes twice a year for the next two years.
During each visit, water operators will take three one-litre samples, which will be tested for lead, alkalinity, and pH. These water samples usually are taken from the kitchen tap.
Brown stressed a trained water operator must take the samples (i.e., residents cannot do it themselves).
For participants, the town is looking for properties located between
Central Avenue east to Colonization Road East, from Sixth Street south to the river, and from Central Avenue west to McIrvine Road (from the CN tracks south to the river).
The areas of town being tested reflect where it is believed the concentration of lead services are due to the concentration of older homes, and thus lead water connections (as opposed to copper ones used in newer properties).
Based on the results of the two testing periods, the town may be able to reduce the number of properties tested, and the frequency of testing, in future years.
Brown said the testing is not a cause for alarm, but a matter of following provincial regulations, adding the first round of testing likely will yield favourable results.
In fact, testing done here back in May showed that of the 20 properties tested, all had lead levels far below the maximum safe concentration of 10 micrograms per litre of water.
Anyone interested in participating in this survey, or requiring more information, should call 274-9893. If there’s no answer, leave your name and telephone number.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
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