Hamilton-area resident Mary Kovacs was hoping that the months-long boil-water advisory she’s been contending with would have been lifted by her 67th birthday on July 27, but that wasn’t the case.
Almost 70 days ago, Hamilton Public Health (HPH) issued a Precautionary Boil Water Advisory (PBWA) for Fernbrook Resort, the 465-acre site near Freelton, Ont. she’s called home for 16 years.
Located about 30 kilometres northwest of Hamilton, the RV community is home to roughly 90 people age 50-plus who live there year-round and about 200 others who stay there seasonally.
Fernbrook Resort is dubbed by its owner online as a “family-oriented RV park with something to do for all ages.” It also has a private drinking water system that is not maintained or operated by the City of Hamilton.
Kovacs said on May 24, she received a knock on her door from management advising her to boil her potable water.
“I asked why and (the manager) shrugged his shoulders,” she told CP24 during a recent interview.
Kovacs said the following day workers were seen on the property and the day after that, on May 26, a boil-water advisory from Hamilton Public Health was posted at the resort’s front desk.
Residents are being told not to drink the water or to even wash dishes or make meals with it. They are instead advised to use an alternate water source for those tasks or boil their tap water for at least one minute before using.
‘Potential’ water quality issues
Dr. Brendan Lew, Associate Medical Officer of Health with the City of Hamilton, told CP24 that public health officials took this measure after the property’s owner “identified an adverse mechanical observation involving the ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system.”
Lew underlined that this boil-water advisory is “not the result of bacteriological contamination or any other contaminant being detected in the drinking water supply,” adding that while residents of Fernbrook Resort continue to have access to water, the precautionary boil-water advisory remains in effect until the UV disinfection system is brought back into compliance with Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks requirements.
“A precautionary BWA outlines how people can safely use water for drinking, cooking and personal care,” he explained in an email.
“Once all corrective measures have been completed, water quality samples will be collected for bacteriological analysis. Following satisfactory water quality results, and when it is safe to do so, the precautionary BWA will be lifted by HPH. Residents will be notified promptly when the advisory is lifted.”
Public health officials in Hamilton say the issuance of the boil order is a “common, proactive measure” in response to operational issues that may have the “potential to affect water quality,” adding that it is often issued “before there is any indication that the water is unsafe to consume.”
The health unit went on to explain that PBWA’s are implemented because microbiological testing and investigation takes time to complete, saying that it is a measure taken to “protect public health whenever the safety of the drinking water supply cannot be fully verified, until the issue has been thoroughly assessed and resolved.”
The PBWA at Fernbrook Resort is the third one the municipality has issued so far this year. On average, there are seven to nine PBWAs issued annually by the City of Hamilton.
Local Coun. Ted McMeekin said he and his staff have been “working closely” with public health officials on the issue.
“There are technical problems which are continuing to be addressed,” the Ward 15 representative wrote in an email.
Problem was to be fixed by late June: resident
Kovacs, meanwhile, said she later learned that the boil-water advisory was put in place after a UV light needed for the resort’s water system burned out and needed replacing. She said she was told that it would be fixed by June 19.
“June 19 comes and we’re still under a boil-water advisory. … This is just not right,” she told CP24.
“What are they hiding? This is unbelievable.”
Kovacs said it’s been challenging to boil water inside her small home during the hot summer for drinking, cooking, and washing. She said she doesn’t want contaminated water touching and possibly infecting any open wounds that may be on her skin, nor that of her dog, Molly, who became violently ill in late May, costing her almost $18,000 in vet bills to treat.
She also said she also doesn’t want to use the pools on the property for those reasons.
“Our whole life has been shut down here,” said Kovacs.
This isn’t the first time that residents at Fernbrook Resort have been told to boil their water, she said. But in the past, she said boil water advisories have usually lasted for just a few days if the power goes out.
Restoring water service ‘our top priority’: landlord
In a June 26 letter to tenants, that was viewed by CP24, Linwood Parks Inc., which owns and operates the site, called the boil-water advisory an “inconvenience,” thanking residents for their “cooperation, patience and understanding.”
“Please know that our team is actively working with our engineers to resolve the issues as quickly and safely as possible. Restoring normal water service is our top priority, and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available,” it read.
The note went on to say that the estimated timeline to finish the work is “approximately 4-6 weeks,” which would be roughly the first week of August.
“While we recognize this is a significant amount of time, this estimate reflects the work required to ensure the repairs are completed properly and the water system is restored safely. If we are able to complete the work sooner, we will notify all park members immediately,” the landlord said, adding that bottled water would be available at the resorts’ clubhouse during operating hours “for any park member who needs it.”
CP24 has reached out to Linwood Parks Inc. several times for further comment but we have not heard back.
Problem caused by aging UV units
Gunnell Engineering Ltd. has been retained to convey operational and engineering information in lay terms and vet proposed upgrades to ensure they are required and budgeted appropriately for this project.
In email to CP24, Partner and Senior Project Manager Brock Cross reiterated that the BWA at this site was “self imposed out of an abundance of caution for the residents and was required as a result of aging ultraviolet units (UV) that required repairs to ensure proper disinfection of the drinking water was occurring.”
He went on to explain this process was also outlined in a letter that was sent to residents. CP24 has reviewed that note.
In it, the company indicated that the boil water advisory is in effect due to aging UV units that require repairs to ensure proper disinfection of the drinking water.
“The repairs to these UV units cannot be made as the replacement parts required can no longer be sourced,” Gunnell said.
“As a result, new UV units need to be designed and specified in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements (Ontario Regulation 170/03) prior to their installation.”
The company went on to say that a re-evaluation of the current water treatment system is also required before new design specifications are prepared.
A site visit by an engineer took place on June 23.
Tenants group assisting residents
Tenants advocacy group ACORN, of which Kovacs is a member, is helping support and advocate for the affected residents.
“The main thing is that we want management to take this matter seriously and get it resolved,” said Bijan Shahir, who chairs the Hamilton Mountain chapter.
ACORN spoke out about concerns at Fernbrook Resort on June 26, a month after the boil-advisory was issued. The organization is demanding greater transparency from the landlord and compensation for residents. It also wants to ensure the property’s owner provides ample amounts of bottled water directly to the residents.
“Waiving the rent is an option,” Shahir said, adding there are precedents for this type of action for similar situations elsewhere.
“What other recourse do these people have but to get back some of their rent? … It’s been months. This isn’t a couple of weeks.”
