A local municipality is looking to remove arsenic from their water supply. Municipality of Glenella-Lansdowne Reeve Richard Funk says very small amounts of the element were discovered in the Glenella area's water supply. Funk emphasizes the level of arsenic in the water is well within the safe range, but they want to tackle the issue before it becomes a problem. He also notes the province recently changed the acceptable level for arsenic in potable water, so it's an issue that needs to be looked at. 

Reeve Richard Funk

The area's water comes from a well in the rural area, and Funk says it's likely many wells in that region have the same issue. He notes some of the local producers are aware and are taking steps to address the arsenic in their own water supplies.

"We didn't know it was in there until lately, and there are producers around that are monitoring it also in the municipality, dairy producers. They have it in their water, and they're finding ways to take the arsenic out. Being that we're serving the public water, we better have a handle on the amounts of it, to make sure the water is a hundred per cent safe."

Funk says a feasibility study is going to begin in the near future, to identify the best methods of removing arsenic from the well water. While he reiterates the arsenic level is minimal, it's something they want to address quickly, before it can become a larger issue.

"It's not a real hot button issue with people yet, but as time goes on it could become something of that nature. We're going to nip it in the bud, so to speak, and get it done before it gets any further along."

While the timeline to have the arsenic removed from the water is uncertain at this time, Funk says it's something they want to be moving forward with as soon as possible.