Fair, Brave Sir Robert
It's my job to ask questions and obtain information on behalf of the community. I do not rely on the town's web site and depend upon my interpretation of it. I prefer a direct discussion with staff to clarify my understanding. If the answers are not on my fingertips, I know what questions to ask.
The Region is responsible for the water supply. They pump it out of the ground into the reservoirs. They ensure the supply is adequate and constantly monitor aquifers to that end. They may even test the water. The town does pay the Region for water consumed.
Municipalities are responsible for distribution of water throughout their respective communities. Monitoring quality, testing and adding chemicals to ensure quality and safety is done at the local level. Common sense dictates testing from Steeles Avenue to Lake Simcoe would not have the same results.The water tested need not be from the same so
Recent local headlines proclaimed two negative Aurora water tests. The newspaper thought it of sufficient importance to make the front page. The public was concerned. The annual average of negative tests is far in excess of that number. Aurora's results were two points less than perfect. That perspective was never presented.
The Town of Walkerton was held responsible for e-coli in its water system. The deaths and illness of several residents were caused by a failure to perform. A town employee went to jail. I thought that was truly horrifying.
The situation brought about stringent regulations governing all Ontario municipalities. Anyone who assumes the catastrophe and found culpability of a municipal employee, does not weigh heavily on those charged with water safety, simply does not understand.
There was no debate in council to determine how a windrow clearing service would be provided by town manpower. Public Works Director had already reported to council manpower was stretched to the limit. It could not be done by the works department.
It may be, in my non-professional capacity as a politician, I make too much of the issue of water safety. If so, I will be glad to let someone who knows more than I do, tell me that.
You, Fair Brave Sir Robert are not the one.
Neither Sir, do you make the case for an accusation against me of "fear-mongering."
You certainly have more information at your diposal than the average citizen. However, your interpretation may not be entirely without bias. Without an organization chart and specific details, I cannot agree that the person seconded to shovel snow is/was a crucial piece to the water distribution organization of this town.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, to speculate that Aurora has water quality issues because a Works Department employee has been assigned to snow shovelling is just wrong and I will repeat, fear-mongering in order to get a response.
The issues that contributed to the problems in Walkerton were negligence on top of poor farm drainage. Of course, left leaning people in the province blamed it on Mike Harris, but that is getting old.
I am in complete agreement that the way this "service" has been handled is less than "kosher". My beef with your original comment was to take offence that you tried to breed fear that water quality is being compromised.
Do you have any proof that within the last month or so that windrows have been cleared, that water quality has declined?
You are quite correct to raise the issue of using human resources for some thing that they are not supposed to do, but to equate it to Walkerton is grandstanding.
Fuimus