Efforts continue to find and plug a well that caused the latest hydrogen sulfide gas leak in downtown Wheatley.
Chatham-Kent Director of Public Works Ryan Brown told council at its meeting on Monday night that the area will be excavated to confirm the gas leak came from an abandoned water well, adding a contractor and equipment should be in town by the end of the month.
Another gas leak on June 26, 2025 behind the Wheatley Library forced residents out of their homes and businesses.
CK Fire Chief Chris Case said there have been six gas leaks since the first one on June 26, with the most notable on Canada Day.
The municipality also said demolition of 24 Erie Street North will begin on Monday and is expected to last two weeks.
Officials noted Erie Street North will remain open and traffic disruptions are not anticipated during the demolition.
"We ask that residents use caution when in the area and keep clear of the demolition site," officials said.
Brown is also looking for any old photos of the site around the library before it was built to help officials determine if any old wells were present in the area at that time.
"A historical photo can be really relevant. If you remember from the site down the road, we had a photo of the old gas well and we knew where to look. It could be location based. Is there more than one water well? We don't know that. It would be really helpful. I don't know if any exist," said Brown. "Just some idea of what was actually on the site and where we could start looking. We can detect some sort of metal feature in the area of the gas, we just haven't been able to have the proper safety tools to excavate that soil, but we are picking something up with the metal detector. We believe it's the casing of a water well, but yet to be seen."
Brown said he found news articles showing a fire and gas explosion in the area in the 1930s before the library was there.
Brown admitted there are more questions than answers right now and that's why the experts have been called in again to sort it all out. He told council there are several unknowns, such as if the gas will find another route if the newly found water well is capped and if the monitoring well and equipment will need to be permanent.
Brown said the goal is to get back to the calm status before June 26.
Chief Case there were many lessons learned from the explosion in August 2021 that helped officials deal with the latest gas leak very quickly and he's reassuring the public about the work that's being done.
A public meeting is being planned for the end of the month to answer questions the public may have.
Activity around the monitoring well will continue, according to the municipality, adding that pumping tests of the monitoring well divert all gas through the hydrogen sulfide gas scrubber unit.
Odours may be detected and the municipality is reminding the public to call 911 if they smell gas.
Wheatley updates can be found at www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/wheatley-updates.