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Public session on 'forever chemicals' in North Bay's drinking water

The Trout Lake Conservation Association is spreading awareness and highlighting the importance of a June 20 public information session to be co-hosted by the City of North Bay and DND on PFAS contamination in local waterways, including Trout Lake, the source of our drinking water
BayToday Staff
20191216 lee's creek no fishing 2 turl
Lee's Creek runs down Lees Road from the airport into Trout Lake. Jeff Turl/BayToday.

Trout Lake Conservation Association is taking the PFAS contamination found in North Bay's waterways, wells, and its source of drinking water seriously and is encouraging members of the public to do the same.

See related: Work starts soon on city's PFAS contamination problem

A public information session co-hosted by the Department of National Defence and the City of North Bay will be held at staggered times on Thursday, June 20 at Memorial Gardens. The City and DND will share the latest updates on their efforts to address polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) in North Bay. Experts will present ongoing studies and remediation efforts, and representatives from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit will be available for questions. The sessions will run from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Schedule:

  • 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Open House
  • 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Presentation 1
  • 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Open House
  • 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Presentation 2*
  • 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Open House

*Please note, both presentations cover the same content.

See also: EPA to limit toxic 'forever chemicals' in drinking water

And: Time for Ottawa to protect Canadians from 'forever chemicals,' toxics experts say

In late March, over 100 people attended a public information session on drinking water pollutants PFAS — also known as forever chemicals — co-hosted by the Trout Lake Conservation Association, Northwatch, and Nipissing Environmental Watch in the North Bay Public Library auditorium. It is hoped by organizers the questions raised during the March session will be addressed at this upcoming event.

See related: Packed house for session on local PFAS drinking water concerns

In preparation for the June 20 session, the TLCA is offering a short primer for all stakeholders pertaining to what the group is calling a "serious crisis with our local source of drinking water. Is this important?" the TLCA asks. "If you are drinking water from the main body of Trout Lake, then yes!"