Not everybody can have ‘piped-in’ water

Water woes (April 13)

I am in sympathy with Chief Bill Montour. My well water is also contaminated. I live in rural Hamilton and when we built our home some 45 years ago, the well water was good. For the past several years, our water has deteriorated. We are all to blame as we carelessly and mindlessly pollute with many products we use on a daily basis. We have installed an ultraviolet purification system, which gives perfectly germ-free water for washing food, people, clothing and dishes. However, we cannot drink this water as it has to pass through our water softener first. This renders the water too salty to drink. So although we have plenty of germ-free water, we need to find some water to drink. (Usually taken from our urban relatives’ taps or at the church — I’m too cheap to buy it.) As for all of Ontario having “piped-in” water, that would be far too expensive. That will only happen in towns and cities. Technology exists to turn “grey” water into drinkable water, but it is probably too expensive to install in homes. It will be a long, slow process to return our water to drinkable status. I do not look forward to the challenge. I do have a question for Chief Montour. Why do 300 homes on the reserve not have access to running water of any kind? In my township, I would not be allowed to build a home if it did not have water and sewage systems.

MARIE SALMON, MOUNT HOPE