Heather Wright/The Independent

Joanna Holmes and her Curran Ave neighbours see light at the end of the murky tunnel.

The retiree says the water along the street has been murky and discoloured for months. It all started when the township disconnected Shell Canada from the water system. Without the flow of water going through the 1950’s cast-iron pipes to Shell, neighbours began noticing problems with the water.

Holmes told councillors May 4 she first started noticing her laundry was dingy with some of the lighter sheets and tops turning green. They also had a new dehumidifier which was constantly clogged with iron, leaving brown dust at the bottom.

Worst of all, Holmes developed a rash on her face. “I’ve never had trouble with my skin, not even as a teenager,” she said. “We’re showering in this water. We’re brushing our teeth. I was cooking with it.” Holmes said she started using bottled water after test showed elevated levels of bromide in the water.

Township staff have been flushing the line, but Holmes says that provides clean water for just an hour.

Councillors agreed to use up to $600,000 from the Environment and Educational fund to replace the pipeline as soon as possible.

Brian Black, St. Clair’s director of public works, said it should be a relatively easy fix since a water line only has to be replaced. 

“I could get that drawing put together, likely in a couple of weeks. Have that tendered in a month, month and a half, and then you’re kind of at the mercy of the contractor at that point,” he said. That could be done by the summer.

In the meantime, Black says the township will continue flushing the pipes hoping to keep the rust at bay.