Residents in Harvey sign up for water tests
HARVEY - Richard Sparrow dropped by Harvey's village office this week to pick up a numbered plastic bottle so he could have his water tested for uranium, selenium and arsenic.
The Department of Health has extended the deadline for its free water and air testing program until Aug. 31 in order to ensure each member of the Harvey region had the opportunity to participate.
He said it's time for him to find out exactly what he's been drinking.
"(I've) heard about the problem with the water and my neighbour had gotten their (water) tested, so I've come to get a sample (bottle) to do my own," he said.
He said members of his community deserve to know what they're facing so they can make decide for themselvesabout whether or not they should be drinking their tap water.
"Especially when there's a lot of young children here and there has been a history of a lot of cancer in the Harvey area," he said. "You want to know."
Sparrow said he drinks his tap water regularly and he had his water tested when he first moved into his home.
The water was deemed safe back then, but he's still looking forward to seeing the new results.
He said if his water shows traces of uranium or arsenic, he'll have to explore options that may include a reverse osmosis water-treatment system.
A reverse-osmosis system forces water through a fine membrane to remove dissolved particles from the source water.
"If there's a problem, it'll have to be fixed," he said.
Sylvia Morehouse said she's in the process of having a reverse-osmosis water-treatment system installed at her mother's house.
Morehouse said test results show that a sample of her mother's water-supply contains more than the acceptable levels of uranium and arsenic.
That's when her family decided to spend about $450 to install a reverse osmosis water-treatment system on her kitchen sink.
She said the family decided to take steps to give her mother some peace of mind, and many people around the community are exploring their options.
"Actually, we've bought a water cooler for right now, until we get the (reverse) osmosis in," she said.
"But she's doing OK. She was a little worried at first, but everybody is. You don't know and you're not sure what's there and what isn't there ... She'll feel (safer after the system is installed) because it's scary, you know."
Harvey Mayor Winston Gamblin said he understands that people in the community want some answers.
Gamblin said people should be informed so they have the opportunity to take whatever actions they deem appropriate.
"I like to know," he said. "And I think the people should know what's in their well, whether they want to disregard it or not."
He said he doesn't think people are panicking because there are options available. He said he's heard of at least one Harvey resident that has had a reverse-osmosis system installed.
He said the man purchased a system after tests revealed high levels of uranium and arsenic in his well, but after the reverse-osmosis filter was installed his water was given a passing grade.
The Department of Health said 108 wells have been tested and 22 exceeded the acceptable level of 20 micrograms per litre of uranium in their drinking water.
Forty-one samples surpassed acceptable limits for arsenic.
Health Department spokeswoman Johanne LeBlanc said the rest of the test results will be released when the testing program is completed at the end of August.
Residents can register for the testing program by calling the regional Public Health office at 453-2830.
People can also pick up bottles and instructions for water sampling at the Harvey village office between 8 a.m. and noon on Mondays and Thursdays.
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