Communication 'shortfall' in publicizing gate glitch, staff say

"I was very disappointed that it took nearly two years for the information to come forward to us," said Cumberland Coun. Rob Jellett at a press conference on Tuesday, May 20. "What prevented people from talking about it?"

Why it took so long for the news to reach councillors and who with the city was aware of the malfunctions will be some of the questions put before city manager Kent Kirkpatrick in upcoming meetings, he continued.

City staff, however, should be commended for coming forward and addressing a mystery that had been plaguing the east-end community, added Orléans Coun. Bob Monette, who said intentions are not to point fingers at city workers but to ensure the situation does not reoccur.

Initial news about the malfunctioning gate – located close to 24 Sussex Dr. – came during a May 7 tour of the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre (ROPEC) organized by Monette. David McCartney, the city's manager of waste water and drainage services, told the tour group that in August of 2006 city staff discovered a gate stuck open for 14 days after a massive rainfall the month before, which allowed combined sewage to drain into the Ottawa River instead of being properly redirected. That summer, 45 no-swim advisories were issued at Petrie Island because of high E. coli levels, now credited in part to the glitch.

It "follows logic" the malfunction caused Petrie's high E. coli counts during that approximate period, said Dixon Weir, the city's director of water and wasterwater services, adding that other factors – including the impact of Bilberry Creek – also affected water quality at the east-end beach during that season.

Staff "recognize it is a shortfall" that information about the gate glitch was not passed along, he continued, stressing that new technology – including real-time monitoring – and improved communication strategies are being put in place to prevent a similar incident.