THUNDER BAY — A provincial geochemistry project that collected water samples from about 100 wells in the Thunder Bay area is expected to have another round next spring.
"We should have at least another season of sampling," Ministry of Mines geologist Kayla Dell said last week.
This spring was the first time the project was conducted in the Thunder Bay area. Dell said teams of samplers relied on social media and also old-fashioned door-knocking to find participants.
Starting in southern Ontario in 2007 and eventually migrating North, the program aims to determine how bedrock and sediments in different parts of the province impacts groundwater chemistry.
Findings are eventually added to a provincial database. In addition to providing information for researchers, the database can help property owners plan water-treatment strategies before they drill a well, said Dell, who is based in Sudbury.
Names of individual property owners who participate aren't included in the database.
Samples collected near Thunder Bay included Kakabeka Falls and Trout Bay.
The project tests for periodic-table elements such as hydrogen, sulphur, carbon and nitrogen.
Participants who agree to have samples taken from their wells receive a free analysis report valued at $1,500.
"It would be fun to compare well notes, as each of us might be tapping into different water sources," one person wrote about the program on social media.
Reports that participants receive also flag samples that exceed limits under Ontario guidelines for safe drinking water, Dell said.
Those who want to have their well sampled in next year's testing round can contact the project by email at [email protected].
The Chronicle Journal / Local Journalism Initiative
