- Bacterial pollution: possible bacterial pollution from previous biosolids/sludge applications to the site
- Wells and septic systems: impacts on residential septic systems and rural wells
- Security: security fencing and on-going monitoring of property (e.g. local youth using the lake as a swimming hole)
- Respiratory health:
- adverse effects of airborne dust, including quartz and silica particulates, on respiratory health (e.g. asthma, emphysema, silicosis)
- pollutant emissions from diesel trucks and machinery (e.g. nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds – VOCs, carbon monoxide, fine particulate matter)
- Contamination of drinking water:
- contaminants such as road salt, gasoline, oil, lubricants and solvents entering the shallow groundwater and deeper aquifers causing contamination of drinking water
- contamination of water in pit ponds and lakes from increased bird populations (e.g. seagulls, Canada gees, other waterfowl)
- Disease: mosquito populations in man-made wetlands, ponds and lakes, as well as water laying on pit/quarry floors and the potential for West Nile Virus disease
- Road safety:
- gravel trucks pose a potential danger to children riding, boarding and departing school buses.
- snow blowing over berms causing drifts to build up and icy conditions to form on adjacent roads
- increased icing of roads in the fall and winter from evaporation, condensation and moisture in the air rising from pit/quarry ponds and lakes
Taken with permission from the Information Guide For Citizens produced by Gravel Watch Ontario