Concerns raised about potentially contaminated water leaching off the library site here and into the Grand River are unwarranted, an engineering technician with Triton Engineering said.
Paul Ziegler said removal of soil from the rear of the library to make way for a $5 million expansion of the Wellington County-owned facility does not pose any environmental hazards.
A resident, who sent pictures of brown water on the site from the recent downpour of rain over the weekend, was concerned. The resident, who asked for anonymity, said the ministry of the environment (MOE) was also contacted.
However, Ziegler said he was “unaware” of any MOE inspection of the site resulting from a complaint.
An environmental assessment of the site during the planning process for the expansion did not find contaminated soil, despite concerns raised at several public meetings.
“The material that is being taken away isn’t necessarily contaminated, it’s unsuitable fill,” Ziegler said.
The ground was found to contain levels of salt higher than acceptable MOE standards. The salt is believed to have come from years of de-icing of the parking lot.
Ziegler also pointed out the soil is being removed to the Riverstown landfill site near Kenilworth. According to the technician, the landfill’s certificate would not allow contaminated soil to be placed there. The soil containing salt is not prohibited.
“There might be some ash and elevated amounts of salt,” he said. “It can be used for landfill cover. If it was a toxin it would be going to (an incinerator in ) Sarnia.”
Ziegler said the only complaint he has received about the work is that it is taking too long. The delay is due to the amount of fill the landfill can handle in a day. The Riverstown licence allows for 250 tonnes of fill to be taken in each day and 150 to 200 tonnes is being removed daily from the library site.
The work also calls for the replacement of some 60 meters of sewer line along the laneway. Ziegler said once the work is started closer to the river, a temporary laneway will be put in while the sewer closest to the rear of the library is replaced.
