After a tumultous 2 years, Wheatley residents want answers
Boil water advisory lifted, but residents still left with a bad taste in their mouth
Even though Wheatley, Ont., residents are relieved that a three-week boil water advisory has now been lifted, some like Terry Lobzun say the whole ordeal adds to the mistrust and uncertainty they feel about the future of their community.
As of Wednesday evening, the municipality of Chatham-Kent and its public health unit rescinded a boil water advisory for Tilbury and Wheatley. The alert was in place for about 8,500 residents in both communities after a fire broke out at the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant on Sept. 13.
"You hear a siren go, you go, 'oh no,'" Lobzun said.
"You take a deep breath and a sigh and you hope it's nothing serious."
No one was injured in the fire, but Chatham-Kent said there was extensive damage that created a loss in water pressure, which put the system at risk of being contaminated with bacteria.
The boil water advisory was lifted after water samples taken earlier this week showed no evidence of bacterial contamination.
The water for Tilbury and Wheatley is now being supplied through Leamington's and Chatham-Kent's systems.
Even though Lobzun is happy he can consume his tap water as usual again, he says a lack of answers around how the fire at the plant started and what happens next is frustrating.
"It's kind of a difficult situation and I don't think anyone here is looking to blame anyone, we just want to know how long is this going to be? What happened? Give us some timeline," he said.
WATCH: Terry Lobzun talks about the day of the fire
Cause of fire under investigation
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but general manager of Chatham-Kent's Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Tim Sunderland, says it started near the plant's generator area.
"There was significant damage," Sunderland said, adding they are still going through the equipment to see what needs to be replaced or repaired.
"We are working as hard as we can work to... [find] a temporary solution for the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant for rehabilitation and then ultimately rebuilding the [treatment plant] to its status before the fire."
He says that the cost of the damage is unknown at this time and that the PUC is responsible for footing the bill.
Depending on the final cost, Sunderland said they will determine whether they'll need to ask Chatham-Kent for funding.
In a news release, the municipality has said it could take a year or longer for the plant to be fully repaired due to significant damage to specialized systems. Parts to fix those systems can take a long time to get delivered.
Residents want better communication, more action
But Lobzun says a lack of answers with the water treatment plant and uncertainty on its restoration are all too familiar for residents, who are still in limbo over a gas explosion that rocked Wheatley's downtown core more than two years ago.
"The water thing on top of this [has] just really created a lot of animosity and finger pointing and rumours and I think the municipality and the people that are involved should have a little bit better communication," he said.
The last update on the site of the explosion in downtown Wheatley was in March. Lobzun says residents are anxious to move on — but little information mixed with a lack of action has people feeling helpless.
One of them is Rick Taves, who's decided that instead of waiting around, he's going to rally people together. Taves is planning to restart a local community group that will allow people to voice their concerns and have them brought to Chatham-Kent council.
The group, formerly known as Concerned Citizens of Wheatley, will now be called Active Citizens of Wheatley.
"I hope we get something stimulated in Chatham at the council level — a sense of urgency of somebody taking the bull by the horns and saying, 'dammit it's time something happened, this has gone on long enough, we are tired,'" he said.
Another issue Taves is looking to have resolved is the section of Talbot Trail that has eroded due to Lake Erie. He says the municipality still hasn't tried to repair the area, despite the road being closed for years now.
The group is planning its first meeting for next Thursday.
Mayor promises long-term plan for Wheatley will help
In an emailed statement, Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff acknowledged that Wheatley has "undergone some major issues."
But he said, "[Wheatley is] strong and despite the setbacks, and because of the resiliency shown by the tight-knit community, the future is looking excellent."
He added that the municipality is moving forward with its Imagine Wheatley project, which is a 20-year plan to "promote development and investment."
Canniff says that although this will take time, council is dedicated to helping the community.
But for Lobzun, he wants to see change happen now and hopes any next steps take into consideration what residents want.
"It really was the heart of the town," Lobzun said of downtown Wheatley.
"How can we get back to where it used to be?"
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