Retired Richmond MD ask for Medical Officer of Health's immediate attention to Richmond problem

DR. R. F1TZ-GERALD. B.Sc., M. Sc., (Surg.), M.D., C.M., F.R.C.S. (C)

Physician and Surgeon

BOX 48, RICHMOND. ONTARIO

KOA 2ZO

Dr. Robert Cushman, M.D., F.R.C.P.( C ) Fax: 613-724-41 52
Medical Officer of Health for Ottawa,
Ottawa, Ont.

March 9, 2004

Dear Dr. Cushman,

As a long time resident of this pleasant community and a professional colleague of yours I feel it not remiss to bring to your attention a matter which most assuredly is within your area of interest and responsibility in overseeing and assuring the continued maintenance of community health throughout the region..

Yesterday evening I was privileged to be asked to informally be present at a packed meeting of the local community association concerning a matter about which widely circulated disturbing local concern and anxieties obviously have understandably arisen and which were seen both unmistakenly entertained and stridently made known by many of those present at this meeting.

The element which has provoked this concern and anxiety is what seems to have been an expeditious but inadequately researched plan to run a sewage waste pipeline, under high pressure and intended only to serve a neighboring community some ten kilometers distant, right through the middle of the settlement of Richmond in close proximity to many homes the residents of which depend on long standing well water sources. After coursing through the community it is evidently then to be directed underneath the Jock River and then skywards on the far side.

Not only is it seen as an undertaking fraught with alarming potential sequelae but formally considered inadvisable for both Richmond, the neighboring community to be served and the environment, in a written submission to the OMB by a professional engineer. His costs compared to the proposed alternative approach are exorbitant.

The existence of cracked and leaking present sewage conduits have already been confirmed here in Richmond necessitating use of commercially provided drinking water with consequent continued vigilance by taxed home owners. The protocol and technology for timely identification of such leaks and cracks has been said to leave much to be desired and many at this meeting voiced the fear that future "Walkerton disaster may indeed lie ahead particularly in view of the local shallow acquifer.

I may say that, some years ago, I encountered some considerable laxity in my dealings with a predecessor of yours and others concerning a similar problem in the local confines by a thoughtless
nearby politically allied resident with the community facing local occurrences of hepatitis. The
problem was eventually resolved with the issue of no less than five writs which swiftly had the affair brought to a prompt and satisfactory culmination.

It would be appreciated if you would email: Mr. Ted Brown, RVA President, RVAMail@sympatico.ca, advising him, on my behalf, you will look into the matter and offer your assistance and professional advice.