Library services to relocate temporarily as Wheatley, Ont., runs tests on monitoring well

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent says residents in Wheatley, Ont., should be ready to see some activity downtown over the next few days, including the relocation of the community's library, as tests are run by contractors on the monitoring well.

"It is believed the latest gas release was caused by a previously abandoned water well behind the library," the municipality said in a news release.

Last Tuesday emergency crews were in the community to monitor the area around the library following the second gas detection there in less than a week, the Chatham-Kent Fire Department said. That follows a previous gas leak in late June, during which some residents were evacuated from the area. 

In Wednesday's release the municipality said library services will temporarily relocate to The Village Resource Centre beginning Saturday, July 12.

The Wheatley pop-up library will be open:

• Tuesdays, 4 p.m to 8 p.m.
• Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Residents are advised that a small selection of materials will be available to browse, and patrons are encouraged to place holds on items to be delivered to Wheatley branch.

Meanwhile, gas migration tests are also being taken around the monitoring well and the library property, the municipality said. 

It said additional remote air monitoring has been installed on the library property as well as a temporary vent stack to capture any gas.

Residents are reminded that if they smell gas to call 911 immediately.

In 2021, an abandoned gas well in Wheatley caused a massive explosion that injured 20 people and levelled buildings.