Sludge Watch ==> Brantford ON Canada - contamination of farm land, groundwater

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

Hmmm....benzene, aluminium, arsenic, oil in farm tiled lands...sounds like 
the results of land application of sewage sludge....

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Printed from www.brantfordexpositor.ca web site Monday, December 18, 2006
Brantford Expositor

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City farmers claim developers poisoned their land, ruined water



Monday, December 18, 2006 - 01:00

Local News - Brantford farmers are alleging they have found contaminated 
water samples near the Grand River and that the government isn't doing 
anything about it.

Howard Summerhayes and John Baldwin, both of Brantford, each have farms 
several kilometres north of the river.

They say water samples from their farm properties contain toxic chemicals 
including aluminum, arsenic, benzene and oil.

According to them, developers illegally tapped into their farm tiles - a 
network of pipes that drains their farmlands - in the early 1990s and caused 
contamination of their groundwater.

Summerhayes says he has tried for 10 years to get the government to clean up 
the water, but that he hasn't had any success.

Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice says that although the test results are 
worrisome, it is the responsibility of the provincial government to look 
after its own waterways.

Summerhayes says getting the water cleaned up would be a massive 
undertaking.

"It's so dangerous this stuff. It's killed all of the animal life in our 
place and people are drinking this stuff."

Summerhayes and Baldwin say they have also contacted representatives of the 
Six Nations community, as well, who want to get involved.

"They are the recipients of this water down there that is coming down 
there," said Summerhayes, referring to the Grand River's entry to their 
property.