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Acton/Georgetown, Friday, June 15, 2007 3 Region work affects Hornby wells Continued from pg. 1 "Some are out of water, some (water levels in their wells) are lower," he said. Ohashi said most of the calls have come in since about June 4 and last Friday they had more calls from residents, which coincides with the day the Region got Ministry of the Environment approval to pump more water from the excavation, which it has been doing. "We know dewatering of the excavation has lowered the water table level," said Ohashi. "Once we stop pumping, the water level is expected to recover." He said within four to eight weeks the Region should be finished building the below ground structure at the pumping station, filling the excavation and plugging the hole in the aquifer. But one area resident whose well level has dropped isn't so confident water levels will return to normal. "I'm not optimistic at all," said Steeles Ave. resident Richard Holmes. "I know this isn't going to come back. If you crack something open you can't repair it." "Of course I'm worried. You have to have water," said Holmes, who adds his new plants are dying in his backyard because he doesn't have enough water. He planned to contact Halton Region yesterday (Thursday) to discuss his water problems. Lawday said residents whose wells have been affected are spread throughout the area, many are on Steeles Ave., some are on Sixth Line north about halfway to Five Sideroad, along Hornby Rd., including Hornby Glen Golf Course which has been "severely impacted," and Tuesday he had his first call from a Sixth Line S. Milton resident (who lives south of 401) whose well had run dry. "The first well to run dry was literally within hours" of when the Region started pumping, said Lawday. He said that well is at a home directly across the road from the pump station site. "They have all been good working wells," said Lawday, whose own well has been impacted. "It looks like the water table is down 18 to 20 feet lower than it normally is." But Lawday said the Region has been quick to respond. "Halton Region has definitely come through for us," said Lawday. He said when residents call the Region with a water problem water is either trucked to their well or a holding tank the Region has provided. Ohashi said the Region is trucking water to those residents at a cost of about $400 per load. Most homes he said are getting two loads a week. Lawday said the affected residents are showing "more of a general concern rather than upset." Lawday said HARP has a commitment from the Region that it will fix the water problems. "At the moment, we have a firm commitment. Whatever it takes, they will do it," said Lawday. If the water table level doesn't return to its normal level Lawday said that could mean drilling new wells for residents or hooking them up to the piped Lake Ontario water that is currently being installed through Hornby along Steeles Ave. to service the 401 Corridor. Of the residents he's spoken with, Lawday said if the water problem becomes long-term 60 per cent would favour being hooked up to lake water and 40 per cent want a well. "Personally, I would prefer my own well water," said Lawday. Wards 1/2 Regional Councillor Clark Somerville said the Region's consultant remains "confident once they're done all the work the wells will return to normal." "Hopefully that will be the case," he said . He said if wells are impacted long-term, "we just have to take care of these people." He believes homes on the north side of Steeles could hook into the piped lake water, and for those who live on Hornby Rd. or Sixth Line, he said the region "would have to run a spur line." 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