More questions than answers about Wakefield’s spring
By Madeline Kerr
Wakefielders have a lot of questions and few clear answers about the water coming out of the iconic spring, which has been under a boil water advisory for more than three months now.
At a meeting held at Biblio Wakefield on Sept. 10, around 30 residents gathered to learn and ask questions about the health, protective measures and future of the spring, which is located on Chemin de la Vallée-de-Wakefield.
The meeting began with a presentation by Bettina Koschade, a member of the newly formed Source Wakefield Spring group, which is advocating for more information and protection around the spring. Koschade said the group is concerned by the frequency and duration of boil water advisories and worries that development in the village has and will continue to impact the spring’s quality.
Koschade used maps and information gathered from hydrogeological studies and surveys to paint a picture of what is known about the source of the spring’s water and the history of development surrounding the spring’s collection point.
She admitted, “There is a lot we still don’t know.”
The meeting revealed that the exact flow of groundwater that feeds the spring, for example, and the source of what may be causing increasing contamination of the spring water are both unknown.
But Koschade added, “We do know that our spring water is not what it used to be. That’s the truth.”
After Koschade spoke, La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux answered questions posed by Source Wakefield Spring, as well as fielding questions from those residents in attendance.
The spring has been under boil water advisories in the past, although the mayor confirmed that these appear to be growing in frequency and length. The current advisory has been in place since June 9, making it perhaps the longest period in recent memory. However Lamoureux said it’s important to note that the coliform levels detected in the water are not drastically higher than usual.
Coliforms are bacteria present in animals and humans, including their waste. Boil water advisories are issued when test results indicate that the coliform level is too high according to provincial regulations.
The fact that the boil water advisory has stretched on so long could be due to more consistent contamination in the water supply but could also be attributed to the stringent provincial standards for water testing that the municipality is obligated to follow, Lamoureux explained.
The reason for its contamination is one mystery surrounding the spring. Another involves its origins.
Lamoureux noted that the spring’s collection point used to be located to the north of where it is now and was moved during the construction of Hwy 105 in the 1980s when pipes were installed to carry the water to its current location. Lamoureux said the municipality intends to conduct a study using a specialty camera to determine exactly where the funneling of the spring water begins.
But even if this is known, the exact location, depth and flow of the aquifer that feeds the spring remains somewhat mysterious. Lamoureux said that underground water generally flows toward the Gatineau River, but the exact course it takes can be complicated by a number of factors.
Without knowing many of the specifics about the aquifer, some residents remarked that it’s hard to gauge the impact that development in the village may have on the spring water. For instance, the planned construction of two duplexes on the corner of Chemin Rockhurst and Hwy 105 has worried some residents, who pointed to a hydrogeological report from 2013 that indicates the spring is fed by water directly below the site.
But Lamoureux, citing recommendations made to the municipality by a hydrogeologist, asserted that the duplexes, which are around 700 metres from the zone of protection surrounding the spring’s collection point, should be far enough away to not pose any risks to the drinking water.
Residents have reason to be concerned about the impact of development. As reported in the Low Down in 2023, dynamite blasting to build the Hwy 5 extension to Wakefield over 10 years ago contaminated some nearby wells.
Koschade pointed out during her presentation that two pumping stations were installed near the Wakefield roundabout after its construction to draw out a chemical called perchlorate, which was used during dynamiting for the highway extension. A certain level of perchlorate in drinking water is harmful to humans, and the pumping stations are designed to remove the contaminated water from the drinking supply.
Koschade asked, “Do we know the effects on the [spring’s] recharge zone when water has been diverted from the aquifer continuously for over 10 years?”
This question, like several others posed during the meeting, remained unanswered.
The group H20Wakefield, which has been working alongside Source Wakefield Spring, will be hosting a meeting to discuss issues relating to Wakefield well water on Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m at Biblio Wakefield.
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