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Lakeshore Advance, 2013-06-05, Page 6Wednesday, June 5, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 55 minion www.lakeshoreadvance.com letters to the editor Is nitrate a problem? !)ear Editor, This is the third of seven letters to the edi- tor responding to the deputy Mayor's cri- tique of my earlier continents. 'this letter deals with the issue of nitrate contamina- tion of the near shore Lake I luron waters by the septic systems in zones three and four. Zones three and four are residential sub- divisions to the South of Grand Bend and west of I ltghway 21. 'there are approxi- mately 1600 homes in this area and all are disposing of their domestic sewage using 'th ,optic tanks and tile fields. e underlying oil in this area is beach sand to a depth of at least 30 feet or more. The water table is about 10 to 15 feet below the surface in (many areas. Let Ilse quote the Deputy Mayor's comments. "Mr. Rupke's assertion that the septic sys- tems in zones three and four are contribut- ing significantly to nitrogen loading has been disputed. Sewage treatment facilities Bayfield Writers' Festival June 22 and 23 !)ear Editor, The 2013 Bayfield Writers' Festival will take place June 22 and 23, 2013, in beauti- ful Rayfield, Ontario. Six authors from Crime Writers of Canada are featured on Saturday, June 22. They will host a series of daytime small group workshops, sure to appeal to both readers and writers. All six authors will read from their works on Sat- urday evening at 7 pm at St. Andrew's United Church. Our guest authors include Catherine Astolfo, Alison Bruce, Melodie Campbell, M. 11. Callway, J. A. Menzies and Rene Natan. Author Tanis Rideout will be the featured guest at Books and Brunch on Ounday, June 23, 12:311 pm, at The Little Inn f Bayfield. Join us for a delectable three - course gourmet brunch and fascinating conversation with the author of Above All 'things, historical fiction based on George Mallory's final attempt to summit Mount Everest. For detailed event and ticket infor- mation, contact The Village Bookshop, 24 Main St. North, Bayfield, 519-565-5600 or visit our event website www.bayfieldwrit- ersfestival.conl. Mary Brown Nautical Cblps Every week we will Scuttlebutt - A butt was a barrel. Scuttle meant to chop a hole In something. The scuttlebutt was a water barrel with a do not completely remove nitrogen either.» The Deputy Mayor makes no mention of who it is that is disputing my claim that up to 20 tons of nitrogen in the nitrate form, is entering Lake I luron from zones three and four each year. 1 have reviewed approxi- mately 20 technical papers published in respected Journals and all of then( confirm that when septic systems are installed in sandy soils the ammonia form of nitrogen, in the sewage, is converted to nitrate and migrates to the groundwater, and then quickly moves to local streams and/or lakes. This problem of septic systems in sandy soils exists in all of the l.anlbton Shores beachfront from Grandfiend to Ipperwash Reach. The provincial Government has taken the lead, and put sewers into finery to eliminate the contamination coming from the 1275 campsites in Pinery. 'the pro- vincial and the federal governments have offered to help pay for doing the same, and installing sewers, in zone three and four but this council has said they don't think there Removing OHIP physiotherapy in retirement homes and long term care facilities wrong !)ear Editor, I completely disagree with the idea of taking 0111P funded Physiotherapy out of Retirement !tomes and Long Term Care Facilities This is a real big step backwards in health care. We always say that we want the hest for our seniors and then the Gov- ernment tries to pull off a stunt like this. Most likely there should he some cutbacks, but this is a real drastic step in the wrong direction. What is the Government of Ontario is up to ? 'this is a very !Wilful thing to do to our Seniors. Our Seniors, the ones that built the Ontario ! lealth (:acre System and we are going to let them down when they need the care the most. Please speak up and let the Ontario Government know that this is unacceptable. Marlene Davelaar Grand Bend hole cut into It so that sailors could reach in and dip out drinking water. The scuttlebutt was the place where the ship's gossip was exchanged. is a problem. Do they know something the rest of the world doesn't know'??? This 20 tons per year of nitrogen contri- bution is not the largest input into this sec- tion of Lake 1turon (the local streams con- tribute much more nitrate), but it is one that we can eliminate, quite cost effectively. The provincial government has been working very hard for the past 20+ years, trying to control the nutrient (nitrogen and phospho- rus) input from the streams, thru the use of farm nutrient management plans. Nitrogen control can be added to, upgraded tertiary septic systems, at a cost of about $30,000 per household, with a 20 year lifespan. Nitrogen control could also he done, by installing communitywide sewers (70 + year lifespan) at a per household cost of about $10,000 to the householder with another $10,000 being paid by each of the federal and provincial governments. "lhe sewage would then be transmitted to the new sewage treatment facility where about 90% of the nitrogen would be removed. This would seem to be a fairly easy deci- sion for Council to make since more than half of our municipal taxes conte from rate payers that are here because of our great beaches and tourist facilities. If we (10 not protect our near shore water quality, algae blooms will begin to contaminate our beaches with unsightly slime and terrible stink, as happened to Lake Erie 50 years ago. 'Ibis Council has decided to ignore the (GLEAM report that shows that the near shore waters along the Lambton Shores beaches are highly stressed with excessive nitrate nitrogen loadings. ( Google "GLEAM" to read the report). They do not seem to care about our near shore Lake 1luron water quality and are willing to risk losing tax revenue. Maybe they can explain why they made this decision. "hese comments are made without preju- dice and are based on my 46 years of envi- ronmental engineering experience. Gerry Rupke MSc. PEng. Conservation Foundation offers $1,000 scholarship The Ausable Rayfield Conservation Foundation is seeking applications for the 4th annual Student Environmental Award of $1000. Local students are invited to apply for this financial boost towards their post -secondary studies in a field related to the environment and conservation. Last year the award was presented to Greg Urquhart of Perth South who is attending Sir Sanford Fleming College in Lindsay. Eligible students must apply before Friday, June 28, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. local time. To see the criteria and download an application, visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation website at ahca.on.ca. Click Publications & Downloads; Forms; 2013 Student Environmental Award. Stu- dents are asked to submit a creative two- page essay on their personal involve- ment and meaningful experiences gained while working with an environ- mental or conservation -based project and/or organization. Eligible students must he between the ages of 17-25, have a permanent address in one of the 12 municipalities within the Ausable Rayfield Conservation Authority watershed, be currently enrolled In university or college, or grad- uating from high school and pursuing a► post -secondary education In a conserva- tion or environment related course of study, such as biology, ecology, geogra- phy, forestry, fish and wildlife or outdoor education. "Our Foundation is very proud of this award and we appreciate the chance to assist a local student each year with their post -secondary education in the conser- vation or environment fields," said Bob Radtke, Chair of the ABC': Board of Directors. Ausable Bayfield watersheds include parts of the following municipalities: Adelaide Metcalfe, Bluewater, Central Huron, Huron East, Lampton Shores, Lucan Biddulph, Perth South, Middlesex Centre, North Middlesex, South 1luron, Warwick, and West Perth. For more information on this cash stu- dent award call 519-235-2610 or email Info@abca.on.ca.