Now that provincial officials are certain they know the source of a natural gas leak on Robson Rd. in Leamington, they can start capping operations.
Capping the undocumented well is expected to take about four weeks, but once it is complete, the Municipality of Leamington can lift its emergency declaration and residents can finally move back home.
The leak was discovered on October 1 and forced the evacuation of two houses. In November, BlackburnNews.com spoke with Donald Giesbrecht who had moved five times with his wife in just one month; waiting to return to his home.
Fire Chief Chuck Parsons says the investigation was very challenging because there was no record of the well and officials were not sure where the source of the leak was.
"We didn't have a lot of history, and it was showing some very unusual signs," he says. "We now are confident that we know where it is coming from."
He says there was some documentation of a water well on the property.
"The primary objective has always been the safety of the public, the workers, and the protection of the environment," Parsons is quoted in a release from the municipality.
