The Ministry of Environment (MOE) says it continues to monitor and assess the North Kent wind project and so far has no concerns with pile driving to erect turbines or its effect on water quality.
Michael Moroney, district manager in the Windsor office, says the ministry's job is to provide regulatory oversight and to ensure there are no negative impacts on the environment.
Moroney says the MOE is currently reviewing reports submitted by the wind developer to determine if it's properly responding to public complaints and working within the rules.
"We are also responding to these complaint locations and collecting our own samples as well. We are reviewing those assessment reports. We have a vibration expert that reviews those reports as well as a ground water expert," says Moroney.
The wind developer is holding a public meeting Thursday night to give updates and answer community questions about the wind project. It's between 5:30pm and 8pm at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at 24156 Winter Line Rd. in Pain Court.
Moroney admits metal testing has not been done even though Water Wells First is complaining that their well water is contaminated by toxic heavy metals like arsenic, lead and uranium.
"The sampling requirements imposed on the company were specifically related to general chemistry and bacteriological as well. There is no requirement to analyse for metals themselves. We haven't seen evidence in the past that this is a concern historically," Moroney says.
Moroney says there's no evidence to suggest that the well water is contaminated with toxic heavy metals and adds that the local health unit deems the water safe.
"Water containing particles could appear cloudy and turbid water could also be caused by bacterial contamination or turbidity that can mask bacterial contamination. That's why the health unit recommends bacterial testing three times a year," says Moroney.
