Several metal drums with unknown contents are expected to be removed from their burial spot below a city park, metres away from a creek that feeds into the nearby Speed River.
City officials are currently looking for a contractor to dig up and dispose of the barrels, along with contaminated soil which, according to a remediation action report, “may pose a potential risk to human and ecological receptors.”
“We are developing a thorough site remediation plan,” said Kyle VanderMeer, environmental engineer for the city, in an email. “Once we hire the contractor, we can finalize the plan and start sharing information with the community. Our priority is to ensure the site work is completed safely and minimizes impact to the natural environment.”
The bidding period ends on Feb. 9.
Evidence of the drums' existence under Bristol Street Park, west of the dog park area, was uncovered during environmental testing in 2018 and 2019 related to more than 40 metal drums discovered underground nearby during routine roadwork in 2014.
Those drums, some of which were punctured during the roadwork, were removed for proper disposal at the time.
The remediation action report for the remaining drums notes those initially-discovered metal barrels contained a green-blue liquid which reportedly emitted a “sweet solvent or fuel-like scent.”
Laboratory analysis indicated the substance was a mix of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, described by Health Canada as a large group of chemicals often used in manufacturing that can cause negative health impacts with long term exposure at low levels or short term exposure at high levels, with ongoing research into the effects of long term exposure at low levels.
"Analysis has since indicated surface soil, air quality and groundwater do not pose a risk to residents and the environment," said VanderMeer. "We are now returning to the site to remove remaining drums and will work to minimize potential exposure and odours by moving any liquid and/or affected soil into sealed containers and removing the material from the site for safe disposal."
The Bristol Street Park area, along Wellington Road east of the Hanlon Expressway, is known to have hosted several historic landfill sites. The drums are buried adjacent to what was the Stirling Rubber Co. manufacturing plant that operated from the early 1900s to the 1970s, when the area was redeveloped for residential uses.
“The dog park will not be affected, though some of the parking lot will be used to facilitate the removal work,” VanderMeer noted.
“The city is in communication with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, the Ministry of Conservation, Environment and Parks, as well as the Grand River Conservation Authority on this project."
