Cancer-causing chemical contaminates Quebec town's water
Last Updated: Tuesday, February 6, 2001 | 9:19 AM ET
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People in a small town in Quebec are relying on bottled water after a known carcinogen was found in their wells.
The town of Shannon, 20 kilometres northwest of Quebec City, has 31 wells contaminated by trichlorethylene, a solvent that has been shown to cause kidney cancer.
The tasteless, odourless chemical was found three years ago in a well at the nearby Canadian Forces Base Valcartier.
The military drilled a new well to get clean water for CFB Valcartier, but the source of the chemical was never found.
Now, the people of Shannon are worried the source may never be found – or worse, that there may be a cover-up.
Quebec Environment Minister Paul Bégin has called on Ottawa to co-operate with the province to find out where the groundwater in Shannon is being contaminated.
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