Confidence in Smiths Falls’ drinking water and questions about how testing information is shared drew sharply different responses from the town’s three mayoral candidates.
Chris Cummings and Peter McKenna defended the municipal water system during the all-candidates meeting. Nate Morris said his concerns centred on the handling and disclosure of test results.
Asked whether he had visited the treatment plant and understood its operations, Cummings said the facility was built during his time on council.
He described it as state-of-the-art and said he regularly read staff reports during his 12 years as a councillor.
Cummings said he believed the water was safe and expressed confidence in the employees responsible for treating it. He also noted that he was drinking Smiths Falls water at the meeting.
McKenna strongly rejected suggestions that information about water quality was being concealed. He pointed to provincial oversight and the town’s compliance record.
McKenna argued that a cover-up would involve several organizations, including municipal staff, council, public health and the Ministry of the Environment.
He also emphasized councillors’ personal responsibility for oversight and said his daughter’s family, including his young grandson, drinks the town’s water.
Morris disputed McKenna’s characterization of his concerns, saying he was not alleging a massive conspiracy. He made a distinction between the test results he referenced and water reaching residents.
Morris alleged that clean results went directly to municipal staff.
He also said an email exchange showed public health officials requested testing documents but received only clean results. Those were allegations he said were supported by documents he had released.
Morris separately raised concerns about lead, saying the issue was primarily associated with plumbing in people’s homes, although he also alleged some municipal distribution pipes contained lead.
All audio courtesy of YourTV Smiths Falls.
