We hand-delivered a letter to Minister Morash requesting:
that NS Environment immediately commence periodic foecal coliform testing
of the run-off from the former wetlands upstream of the culvert
to protect public health and safety.
We sent a broadcast email stating:
To date, there has been no response whatsoever-
It is surprising that NS Environment and Labour has not acted on the request for water testing:
one would have expected that concerns over public safety would be their utmost priority.
We will be taking samples this week and will report the results as soon as they are available.
not so much as an acknowledgement of receipt.
Water from the run-off ditch draining the infilled wetland was sampled
and delivered to the Capital District Health Authority, Division of Environmental Services.
We sent a broadcast email reporting the test results received from Capital District Health Authority
Letter signed by Kerry Morash:
Dear Mr Daley,
In addition, I had my Executive Assistant Cameron Crowell on my behalf, direct DEL Bridgewater to take a sample of water and have it analyzed and the results will be made known.
From speaking to the Bridgewater District office it has been suggested that a representative of the Sperry's Beach Committee meet with the appropriate staff member(s) at our office to provide greater detail regarding your concerns
We met with Steven Conway, Inspector Specialist, NS Environment and Labour at Sperry's Beach
Letter signed by Steven Conway, Inspector Specialist, NS Environment and Labour
You were able to clarify the concerns of water quality and request for sampling was in relation to swimming at Sperry's Beach. Given that the beach is not currently being used for swimming due to the colder weather, the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour will agree to take a sample later in the coming spring to assess the possible risk to public health.
We sent an email to Kerry Morash:
In your letter to the Sperry's Beach Committee dated September 10, 2004 you state:
"In addition, I had my Executive Assistant Cameron Crowell on my behalf, direct DEL Bridgewater to take a sample of water and have it analyzed and the results will be made known"
As those results have never been made known, would you please mail a photocopy of those test results at your earliest convenience to the Sperry's Beach Committee
Letter signed by Steven Conway, Inspector Specialist, NS Environment and Labour
A sample was collected in June 2005 and the test results have been received. The result is 2 count of Fecal Streptococcus per 100ml of sample. The Guideline for Canadian Recreational Water Quality as established by Health Canada sets the recommended limit for salt water beaches at 35 count of Fecal Streptococcus per 100ml of sample."
and in a subsequent email
"Sample was collected June 13/05 at 11:40am. Since the source of possible high bacteria levels were identified as coming from a ditch running out of what was described as an infilled wetland, the sample was taken at the closest point were beach users would likely come in contact with bacteria which is where the beach ends near the end of the sand spit."
We informed Mr Morash that we had asked for test samples on August 3, 2004 at the height of summer beach usage, and not on October 10, 2004 when "the beach is not currently being used for swimming due to the colder weather"
We informed Mr Morash that we had asked for test samples to be drawn from "the run-off from the former wetlands upstream of the culvert" and not "where the beach ends near the end of the sand spit."
We further pointed out that on June 13
low tide had occured at 07:35 and high tide at 13:38. His Department's sample at 11:40 had been drawn at roughly 2/3 flood tide when most of the water in the estuary was newly-arrived salt water and not river water affected by the run-off from the former wetlands in the cattle pasture.
Mr Morash committed to ordering a new sample to be tested, and that it would be done within the next few days. He said we should not expect his staff to be aware of the state of the tide and how it would affect samples. We informed him that we fully expect anyone with sufficient environmental expertise to be employed by the Department of Environment to be acutely aware of the tide and its effects as it is one of, if not the most, obvious and significant environmental elements of this province.
Mr Morash was questioned as to why, if the river is so clean, the clam flats on the opposite shore are (as they have been for many years) closed to clam digging due to coliform contamination. It was pointed out that water samples have been taken from several places in the estuary for years. Mr Morash committed to finding the historical test results and to report on why the clam flats are closed.
Letter received from Kerry Morash
July 5, 2005
Mr. W. R. G. Lahey
Dear Mr. Lahey,
RE: Water Quality Testing, Sperry's Beach Area.
As the result of attending a public meeting at the Petite Riviere Fire Hall regarding Sperry's Beach, a request has been made by those gathered that more water quality testing be carried out by the department.
Although a test had been done by the department, it was felt that this test was not carried out at the appropriate location; nor at the appropriate time.
Mr. Steven Conway is our local DEL inspector who is handling this matter, and I would ask that he be asked to contact Mr. Tom Daly of the Sperry's Beach Committee so as to take some water samples that is satisfactory to the committee. One of the key areas identified was that of the out flow from the drainage culvert pipe where the flapper valve is located. This sample must be taken at low tide. There seemed to be a great discrepancy between the test result numbers we received from our test and that from the one the Committee had had taken. We need some additional tests to confirm what the runoff contains.
Mr. Daly should be contacted immediately so as to arrange for a mutually agreeable time to meet and work out the details. Mr. Daly's email is tom_d@chebucto.ns.ca. His telephone number is 688-2883.
Thank you for your immediate attention in this matter and please keep me informed as to progress.
Sincerely yours,
Cameron Crowell
Phone call from Adrian Fuller ( Acting District Manager, Department of Environment, Bridgewater)
Meeting scheduled with Steven Conway, Inspector Specialist, NS Environment and Labour, Monday July 11 10:00 am
Bridgewater NSEnv office
discussed water quality concerns:
availability of historic sampling data from Petite River
agreed to new tests
committee has recent sample results (fecal and total) from outflow / culvert
samples will be taken week of July 18-22
Steve will try to discover the reason for the shell fish closure
Further to your fax, I am writing to confirm that I have been in contact with our Bridgewater Office in regard to your concerns and have forwarded a copy of the material your committee provided.
After the meeting, Mr Morash and 10 meeting attendees made a brief visit to the beach and he asked to have pointed out to him the location where we had taken our sample on August 30, 2004 so that subsequent samples would be comparable. This was done.
Deputy Minister
NS Department of Environment and Labour
PO Box 697
Halifax, NS
B3J 2T8
per
Hon. Kerry Morash, MLA
Queens
Adrian Fuller
Steve Conway
Tom Daly
Adrian and Steve will research source
Steve will repeat June 13/05 sample from beach (for Fecal Streptococcus
per 100ml) at low tide for comparison
Steve will sample outflow / culvert for fecal and total
Steve will phone Tom and arrange to meet at beach for sampling