Sorry folks, it has been a while since the last update. I have been ill for several months and have been busy attending to other matters. A snow storm kept people off the roads resulting in very low attendance at the City's 2nd and final "information session" on Dec 16, 2015. The NaOH test was to begin the first week of January but this was delayed when the chemical which is being transported by truck, was held back due to the Nipigon bridge splitting. The city will be issuing a media release tomorrow, Wednesday Jan 27, to announce the beginning of the "injection" on Thursday Jan 28th. "Injection" is the word the city is using to refer to this procedure and seems fitting as our tap water will now begin taking drugs. With the recent news out of Flint Michigan the lead issue is getting more attention and people are realising the serious dangers in exposure to this toxin. There are many parallels to this story which can be applied to Thunder Bay. A water test sample taken in downtown Port Arthur had a lead reading of 38 PPM , with the acceptable human limit of lead at 10 PPM ! Test with levels of 100 PPM have also been recorded.Pregnant women and babies should NOT drink water with these dangerous levels. The fact that the city has never to date had a visible ,widespread and ongoing media campaign to alert and educate our community is criminal. It should be reinforced that the idea the city is using that lead is leaching due to our low pH , or acidic water , causing greater corrosion from our lead lines , is inaccurate . Adding a chemical to raise pH , is not justified as we already have an excellent pH value in Thunder Bay water. It may be a valid addition for cities with acidic water ,but the unique conditions of our water dont justify adding another chemical and trusting that is the best solution to solve our lead problem. The real issue ,which must be adressed is the fundamental need to replace antique , decaying water pipes placed generations ago. This must be a TOP priority or we can only expect worsening health problems. To date we have collected hundreds of signatures against this project , the majority being offline on paper petitions . People have been upset with how quietly the city attempted to proceed with this test. There have been many concerned folks having heated conversations about this situation but the overall sense is that the city has little interest in listening to their opinions or ideas , and has given no alternative options but to submit to the city's agenda. Mayor Hobbs, the City Councillors , and the Ministry of Environment have not , to date, responded or acknowledged our letter and petition . With the test commencing this week we make our email, tbaywaterwatch@gmail.com, available to anyone who may wish to share feedback on any changes they notice in their tap water. Also feel free to share ideas and projects that can help towards improving the situation and also towards the goal of removing the lead pipes . Thank you to all who have been a support on this important subject ! Stay vocal, stay active and tuned in because adding more chemicals is a long term and risky "band aid " and as long as we have obsolete toxic lead pipes carrying our drinking water, our job is not over ! For those new to the petition who want to find the main reasons for the objection to adding this chemical please read the Letter to Mayor Hobbs , found here; https://www.change.org/p/mayor-keith-hobbs-glen-murray-stop-the-addition-of-sodium-hydroxide-to-our-drinking-water/u/14116026