Ferryland residents blame flood damage on upstream construction
Some Ferryland residents have serious concerns about water that flooded over their properties, although several of them have been told there are no concerns about their water supply being contaminated.
Following heavy rainfall Tuesday evening, residents of Merrymeeting Road said they had never seen the river levels so high. But they don't believe it was the rain that caused the surge of water.
They allege construction upstream caused the water to overflow onto their land, although it's not clear exactly what caused the flooding, and the construction company was not available for an interview with CBC News.
Tony Hayden, who lives downstream the river, said he was at a friend's house Tuesday evening when he was told he had better get home because his property was filling with water.
"When I got back here, well it was certainly flooded," he said, standing in his soggy, mucky grass Wednesday afternoon.
The bridge that he built to cross over the river from his yard had to be removed in order for all the water and debris to pass through.
"We tried to clear it up as best we could, to get the dam cleared up to stop the flooding, that worked but it did a lot of damage beforehand."
Some residents, including Hayden, said they are worried about what is in the water as the flooding happened near an old pig farm.
Concerns of contamination
"I don't know what is in it or what has to be done, if it has to be removed or has to be flushed out with water. I don't really know until I get someone out who knows more about it," said Hayden.
Jim Shannahan's parents are in the same situation. Water gushing from the river pooled on their lawn, leaving behind what he called an ugly mess.
"I was sitting at my dad's table and I said, 'There is an awful pile of water coming down your yard,'" said Shannahan.
"'Oh jeez, there was never water coming down there before!'"
Shannahan said the water and mud coming from the river smelt like animal feces, and he wants to make sure there are no hazards to people in the community.
"If it means picking up sod and going down so deep to make sure there are no contaminants, so be it, but it has to be addressed."
The complaint did reach the ears of government. Service NL said it has tested Ferryland's municipal water supply and there was no evidence of contamination in it.
However, for the water sitting on resident's lawns, the onus is on homeowners to test their own well water and soil on their properties.
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