Hamilton is expected to begin testing private wells for contaminants in the Glanbrook area “as soon as possible,” says the city’s medical officer of health.

Dr. Elizabeth Richardson said city health officials are scheduled to meet with provincial Environment Ministry staff this week to discuss plans to begin a comprehensive water sampling testing for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, or PFOS.

The city and the MOE will also share information about PFOS.

Jennifer Hall, the ministry’s spokesperson, said the MOE testing will begin in early May.

“We will be meeting with the MOE next week,” said Richardson.

“I would like to start (the city’s) testing as soon as possible.” Politicians last week in a unanimous vote at their April 13 council meeting, approved a motion from Glanbrook Coun. Brenda Johnson to test private wells and irrigation ponds for PFOS in the Binbrook area.

Johnson insisted that irrigation ponds, which are used to water crops, also be tested.

“The sooner we can get this started, the sooner we can remove the black cloud from the community,” she said. “I want to reassure residents, and say we will protect you.” Richardson didn’t know how the testing will be conducted, how many wells will be tested, or how much it will cost. A protocol on how the testing will be undertaken needs to be crafted, she said.

The city will have to use a private lab to test the results because the city doesn’t have the capabilities, Richardson said. Testing could cost about $500 per sample. She said the city will use reserve funds to pay the cost.

The city’s testing will be conducted parallel to the MOE’s more extensive testing program for contaminants in the entire area, which could take several months.

“There will be no conflict between the two testing efforts,” stated Hall.

The MOE’s Hall said staff will be taking samples of creek water and sediments from the various tributaries of the upper Welland River.

She said the MOE has yet to determine where the source of the toxins is coming from.

The Welland River headwaters are located in the Glanbrook, Hamilton areas, which include Chippewa Creek in Ancaster, and Mount Hope.

“The ministry is not testing groundwater sources,” stated Hall.

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority confirmed during a city budget meeting over a month ago that it and the MOE have been monitoring the fish at the Binbrook Reservoir, or Lake Niapenco, since 2009 for toxins.

The province’s sport fish contaminate monitoring program revealed in its annual fish guide for 2011-12 that high levels of PFOS have been found in largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappie, brown bullhead and common carp in the reservoir.

PFOS has been used in firefighting foam and was added to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in May 2009 due to its persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic nature, say ministry officials.

A December 2010 ministry report revealed “concentrations of PFOS exceeding fish consumption advisory levels were measured in the fish samples from Binbrook Reservoir.”

Johnson was relieved the city would soon begin testing private wells. She said since the publicity of the toxic fish, residents have been asking for help from the city.

“This is to tell residents of Glanbrook we are looking after you,” she said.

“I’m so thankful that council joined me for the unanimous vote.

That says a lot.” Richardson said public health officials are continuing to monitor the issue in Glanbrook. But, she cautioned so far “this is not a health hazard.

“A full investigation will be done by the MOE,” she said.

via HamiltonMountainNews.com: News: Story: City to begin private well testing for toxins.