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Tests by the University of Ottawa show that 42 per cent of residential wells in Chelsea contain higher-than-acceptable levels of natural uranium and 24 per cent exceed national standards for bacterial contamination.
More than 60 per cent of the wells tested in neighbourhoods like Meech Lake and Deschenes du Barrage, near a Hydro Quebec dam on the Gatineau River, showed elevated bacteria levels.
The study conducted for the municipality, the university’s Institute of the Environment and the environmental group Action Chelsea for the Respect of the Environment, was based on 774 samples, about one-quarter of the wells in Chelsea.
The study said a large percentage of Chelsea’s wells exceeded at least one Canadian or Quebec standard for bacteria.
In February 2004, the Outaouais medical officer of health warned that the presence of uranium in some drilled wells on the Algonquin reserve near Maniwaki, and around the town, showed all wells in the Outaouais should be tested for the metal.
The health department warned people in the Upper Gatineau Valley to have their wells tested. But Dr. Lucie Lemieux said wells should be checked across the Outaouais, because she could not guarantee wells elsewhere in the region were uranium-free.
Dr. Lemieux said drinking water containing small quantities of uranium can cause kidney problems, but such problems are reversible when people consume water that is free of the metal.
Scott Findlay, the University of Ottawa scientist responsible for the study, said yesterday elevated uranium levels are not uncommon in communities on the Canadian Shield.
“Most of the wells that had elevated levels of uranium tested close to the Health Canada limit of 0.02 micrograms per litre,” Mr. Findlay said. “The concerns are the toxicity of uranium and the possibility of radon gas.
“When you have elevated levels of uranium in well water, you may also have radon gas from the rocks. Radon gas is a recognized risk associated with lung cancer.”
Mr. Findlay said people should consider testing for radon gas in their basements if a second test confirms an elevated level of uranium. He said treatment systems can remove uranium from well water and ventilation can reduce radon gas levels.
“What we are trying to do is isolate areas of the municipality that have ongoing coliform contamination,” Mr. Findlay said. “Even if your septic system is perfectly clean, it is easy to get coliform in your well through, for example, a cracked well casing.
“It is unclear whether we can draw any firm conclusions that there are areas of the municipality that have elevated levels of coliform contamination. In any community where there are lots of old wells, you will have a high degree of coliform contamination.”
Mr. Findlay said sometimes bacteria can be eliminated by dumping household bleach in a well, but if the problem returns, homeowners should examine their water pipes and septic systems. He added all homeowners should sample their water twice a year to make sure it is fit to drink.
Mayor Jean Perras said Chelsea is the only municipality in Quebec that regularly tests well water for bacteria and uranium contamination. He said the quality of well water in other communities, like Wakefield and Cantley, is probably about the same as in Chelsea.
“This study gives individual homeowners an idea of the state of their water,” Mr. Perras said. “We are doing this testing to be helpful and get a better idea of the quantity and quality of water in the municipality.
“It is up to the individual homeowner to take corrective action. Drinking water is an individual responsibility and it will stay that way. It would cost millions of dollars to pipe in water from the city, or build a water treatment plant on the Gatineau River, and pump water to homes.”
A public information meeting about the water study is scheduled at Chelsea United Church on Mill Road on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.