Bayham plugs historic natural gas well
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The Bayham Municipal Control Group held a meeting Wednesday, May 28 to review the natural gas well leak near Port Burwell. As a result, Mayor Paul Ens has lifted the state of emergency.
A state of emergency had been declared by the Municipality of Bayham on Feb. 13, 2014, due to the leakage of sulphur water containing dangerous hydrogen sulphide from a historic natural gas well. The areas affected by this declaration included the villages of Vienna and Port Burwell, and the area surrounding Big Otter Creek within the Municipality of Bayham.
After significant challenges, the contractor was able to locate the original well bore and stop the flow of sulphur water.
As of May 22, the Port Burwell gas leak has been officially contained and plugged. The emergency situation is now under control and site restoration and renaturalization is underway.
Orchard Line has been re-opened to traffic.
The Municipality of Bayham would like to thank the staff from the Bayham Public Works Department, Bayham Fire and Emergency Services, Long Point Region Conservation Authority, Elgin-St. Thomas Public Health, Office of the Fire Marshall, Emergency Management Ontario, and other provincial ministries for their continued assistance and support.