Board Motion RE: Ancaster Wells – October 5, 2017
WHEREAS the Ancaster Well’s site has been under the HCA’s ownership and jurisdiction
since the late 1990s and is an open public water source;
WHEREAS new regulations for drinking water quality standards are coming into effect January
1, 2018, specifically related to arsenic concentrations where the maximum legal limit for
arsenic in drinking water wells, as established by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and
Climate Change, will be reduced to 0.010mg/L;
WHEREAS the concentration of arsenic in the water at the Ancaster Well has always been
below the existing legal limit of 0.025mg/L, consistently measuring between 0.017mg/L and
0.023mg/L over the past 5 years, but it will fail to meet the new standard;
WHEREAS the current manner of operations of the Ancaster Wells suggest that it is
considered a small drinking water system subject to the new regulations and is considered
such by Hamilton Public Health Services;
WHEREAS Hamilton Public Health Services has recently indicated that, with an alteration in the
manner of operation with such alteration requiring modifications to restrict open public access,
appropriate signage and sign off of a waiver the Ancaster Wells may not be considered and
regulated as a small drinking water system;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION IN WRITING TO THE HCA FROM THE INSURANCE
CARRIER THAT THIS CHANGE OF OPERATION DOES NOT NEGATE GENERAL
LIABILITY COVERAGE,
AND SUBJECT TO INSPECTION AND APPROVAL OF THE CHANGE OF
OPERATION BEING PROVIDED TO THE HCA BY THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF
HEALTH, CITY OF HAMILTON, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES AND TO THE
SATISFACTION OF THE HCA,
AND SUBJECT TO ANY OTHER APPLICABLE LEGISLATION,
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE AUTHORITY BOARD ENDORSE A CHANGE IN
OPERATIONS OF THE ANCASTER WELL (AS THE PREFERRED OPTION
RATHER THAN CLOSING) AS FOLLOWS:
THAT fencing be erected around the well taps with restricted gate entry;
THAT access to the gate be restricted to members of the public that have signed
a legally approved waiver acknowledging that the water is not provided for
drinking water purposes, is not tested, and is known to contain arsenic and high
levels of sodium and any other information as required;
THAT a sign be erected in the vicinity on the taps with information similar to that
on the waiver;
THAT members of the public who have signed the aforementioned waiver pay a
one-time $10 fee to cover administration costs to install and maintain the
fencing and restricted gate access system as well as staff costs to create and
provide swipe cards and waiver forms; and further
THAT staff be directed to create other such policies as required in regard to
frequency of waiver acknowledgement, lost cards, daily inspection of gate
access etc.
AND FURTHER THAT best efforts be taken to implement the above changes
prior to January 1, 2018
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