News Release

For immediate release
November 12, 2003

THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF PELEE
FINED TOTAL OF $25,000

Windsor – The Corporation of the Township of Pelee has been fined a total of $25,000, plus a 25-percent victim fine surcharge, after pleading guilty to nine counts relating to the operation of two water works on Pelee Island. The Court also ordered the Township, under section 112 of the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA), to bring the two works into compliance with legislation.

The Corporation of the Township of Pelee operates two small communal water works on Pelee Island, known as the East Shore and West Shore Water Supply Systems. The Court heard that Ministry of the Environment inspections of the water works conducted in July 2000 revealed several violations of the Drinking Water Protection Regulation, as well as of the certificate of approval for the West Shore Water Supply System. The ministry issued an Order to the municipality following the inspection, but when the ministry returned on several occasions beginning in July 2001, requirements in the Order were not being met.

The charges and penalties were as follows:

• No properly licensed operator with overall responsibility at the East Shore, or West Shore Water Supply Systems, contrary to section 13(1) of Regulation 435/93; fined $5,000 for each of the two offenses.
• West Shore Water Supply System (WSWSS) failed to comply with a condition of its certificate of approval by failing to implement a monitoring program, contrary to section 107(3) of the OWRA; fined $5,000.
• East Shore Water Supply System was operating without a certificate of approval, contrary to section 52(1) of the OWRA; fined $5,000.
• Failed to provide a certified operator to supervise the operation of either water supply system, and therefore failed to comply with a condition of a Field Order, contrary to section 107(2) of the OWRA; received a suspended sentence for each of the two offenses.
• Failed to comply with a condition of a Field Order by failing to install a sampling tap at the WSWSS, contrary to section 107(2) of the OWRA; fined $2,500.
• WSWSS failed to comply with a condition of its certificate of approval, by failing to have an operations and maintenance manual, contrary to section 107(3) of the OWRA; received a suspended sentence.
• WSWSS failed to comply with a condition of its certificate of approval by failing to calibrate its water flow meter once a year, contrary to section 107(3) of the OWRA; fined $2,500.

Justice of the Peace Allan D. Murphy heard the case on October 24, 2003 in the Ontario Court of Justice in Windsor.

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Contact:
Mark Rabbior
Communications Branch
Ministry of the Environment
(416) 314-6666