Stump dump produces water quality concerns

By Chris Simon Innisfil Scope
Municipal staff may be asked to investigate water quality on properties near a former gravel pit, if a town councillor gets his way.
Councillor Dan Davidson introduced a motion calling on staff to investigate water concerns on private properties surrounding a townowned former gravel pit, which is located along Big Bay Point Road. That motion will be debated at tonight’s council meeting.
“The town owns a licenced gravel pit, which allows for a stump dump onsite,” he said. “This municipality has proven to dump specific material … on a designated portion of this site. Inappropriate building materials have been found at this location.”
The pit was officially designated a stump dump in 1993, has been used by the municipality and its contractors to illegally dump garbage.
Tree stumps and other related material, and some amounts of asphalt, are permitted to be dumped at the site.
During a recent interview with The Scope, Davidson suggested the gates to the pit had been left open several times, allowing both municipal vehicles and unmarked trucks to enter the premises at will.
Town officials had the site cleaned up by the end of August, after receiving a letter of concern from the Ministry of the Environment in mid-June.
However, there are still concerns over contaminants in the area’s water table.
“Concern has been expressed by residents in the area, pertaining to well water issues,” said Davidson.
Community services (staff should be) requested to prepare a report to council on the use of test wells at the site, to monitor water samples and investigate potential funding sources (for cleanup).”