Response
to White Paper on
Watershed
–based Source Protection Planning
(February,
2004)
April 13,
2004
The CHO is a coalition of
individuals, health care professionals, scientists,
and health and environmental organisations working to
reduce lawn and garden pesticides in Ottawa. The CHO
supports healthy, sustainable landscapes by
encouraging non-toxic pest management strategies, and
seeking a bylaw restricting landscaping pesticides.
The CHO applauds the Ontario
government for recognising the importance of water
supply sustainability, both in terms of quality and
quantity.
The CHO is taking this
opportunity to bring to attention existing problems
that have emerged during activities with regard to
toxic chemicals in Ottawa.
- Pesticides used for
golf courses and landscaping run into local
waterways.
A 2003 pesticide monitoring
study by the City of Ottawa reported that phenoxy
herbicides and diazinon were found at all nine sites
sampled along the Rideau River and tributaries.
Diazinon was above the provincial standard for
protection of aquatic species. Examining this data
brought to our attention that drinking water
standards for common pesticides are much less
stringent than those for protection of aquatic
species (e.g. chlorpyrifos standards are 90,000 X
different). Thus, when Ottawa's drinking water (drawn
from the Ottawa River) is tested for pesticides and
none are detected according to the drinking water
standards, it is still possible that pesticides are
present at concentrations several orders of magnitude
greater than those set for protection of aquatic
species.
This instils a false sense of
security in the citizenry, does nothing to protect
other species, and possibly puts people at risk. For
instance, it is increasingly recognised that there is
a huge variation in people's susceptibility to the
effects of insecticides such as diazinon and
chlorpyrifos, that inhibit cholinesterase.
Biochemical pathways related to toxicity of
insecticides are being recognised as important in a
variety of maladies such as environmental
sensitivities and neurocognitive difficulties.
The CHO notes that a diversity
of aquatic species, including mosquito predators such
as dragonflies, frogs, toads and fish, protects
people from vector borne disease such as West Nile
virus. Again, testing of water according to Ontario
Drinking Water Standards does not reveal threats to
these species, although in the general public a tacit
understanding exists that it would and should.
Generally, people expect that the most stringent
standards would be for drinking water, and it was a
surprise and shock to learn that the opposite is
true.
The Ontario Drinking Water
Standards are very old, and need revising. Water
testing should uniformly be done to the most
stringent standard, for protection of our most
vulnerable individuals and species.
Ontario should adopt a
Precautionary approach to the use of pesticides,
particularly for landscaping. Quebec's Pesticide Code
would be a good example to follow.
- Learning from Leitrim
In the South of Ottawa, near
the Ottawa Airport, a housing development is
proceeding on a portion of a provincially significant
wetland. This wetland has areas where groundwater
wells up. This water originates from the Gloucester
Landfill, the site of an old toxic waste dump. The
dump is now the responsibility of the landowner,
Transport Canada.
Groundwater contamination was
recognised over a decade ago, and the federal
government now pumps out polluted water, treats it,
and re-injects it into the ground. Nevertheless, the
plume of pollution spread relentlessly across Albion
Road, into the wetland. In 2002 1,4-dioxane, a
probable carcinogen and a mobile pollutant, was
detected on development land, at over 8000 ppb. The
Transport Canada "action level" is 66.5
ppb. The guideline for 1,4-dioxane in California is 3
ppb and in Washington State is 7 ppb. However, a
committee struck by the City of Ottawa is proposing
that 50,000 ppb would be acceptable in groundwater!
There are more than twenty compounds on the
"Gloucester List", including vinyl
chloride. However, the dioxane is the most soluble,
and thus mobile in groundwater. Remarkably, peat on
the lands would be expected to sequester organic
pollutants, including the Gloucester contaminants,
but the peat has never been examined for chemicals
such as vinyl chloride. Development is proceeding to
drain land, remove peat and build houses.
Contaminated water that wells
up could contaminate future homes. As well, water
that wells up could sporadically contaminate the
surface water, and affect wetland and stream species.
This area is the headwaters of Findlay Creek, one of
the best cold water streams in the Ottawa area. Rare
mussels speak to the high water quality today. Once
the water-filtering peat is removed, will the toxic
chemicals make their way into basements and streams,
threatening health of people and many other species
as well? An area-wide risk assessment suggests not,
and somehow justifies the 50,000 ppb dioxane level
that is so wildly out of line with water
contamination guidelines elsewhere. This deserves
review.
Ad hoc, site-specific
water standards should not be granted to sanction
water contamination and allow circumvention of
responsibilities for waste cleanup.
Ontario water standards
should be revised to protect all species, and in
recognition that groundwater, surface water and
drinking water are potentially one and the same.
Wetland functions, to
improve water quality and quantity, should be
recognised and given more weight and protection, in
assessment of water treatment on the landscape.
Land use planning
discussion and policies arising from the Sewell
Commission should be revisited. Bad land use
approvals that have not been built should be renewed.
Leitrim is one example. As well, in Ottawa, plans of
subdivision have been obtained for rural estate
developments, without proper assessment of private
servicing (e.g. analysis of adjacent developments'
impacts on groundwater, existence of potential for
contamination of high-quality drinking water
reservoirs, or cumulative impacts). These approvals
should not be extended until they have been
reassessed regarding water supplies, natural features
protection and urban sprawl. As well, nitrate
contamination should be monitored in routine
municipal water testing.
Prepared by:
Meg Sears (M.Eng., Ph.D.),
Head, Steering Committee, CHO
Community Web.
