Special Gas Monitoring Units Erected in Wheatley

By Greg Coulter

WHEATLEY — Various government departments continue to coordinate monitoring of hydrogen sulphide levels in the village of Wheatley.

Recently, residents have noticed three Air Pointer units installed — two on the east end and one on the west end of the outer perimeter of the evacuation zone. These units are in addition to other precise testing equipment currently in the core downtown area. According to an official from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, the units are specifically monitoring concentrations of hydrogen sulphide (H2S).

These monitors track concentrations in real time. The information from these monitors will be made available to officials from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF), the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, as well as consultants involved in the investigation.

Some of the air monitors have the capability to alert when levels are extremely high and the ministry will be setting up a process to alert officials if concentrations exceed thresholds of interest.

These monitors are meant as a temporary measure to help provide an additional level of comfort and security for the community while the investigation continues.

The ministry continues to work with the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) and the Municipality to determine for how long these monitors are needed and how best they can continue to support the investigation.