A longtime Stonewall resident is encouraging others in the community to test their drinking water after his family experienced health concerns he believes may be linked to elevated mineral levels.
Ken Klimpke, who has lived in Stonewall for the past 30 years, said his concerns about groundwater and the potential impact of nearby quarry operations on the local aquifer became personal after a health issue in his household prompted questions about water quality.
Klimpke said the family had been drinking Town of Stonewall municipal water prior to those concerns. According to Klimpke, their physician suggested water quality was one of several factors worth examining.
Following that, Klimpke tested their household water using a total dissolved solids (TDS) meter, recording a reading just under 500.
“I just want people to be aware and take precautions,” he said. “A lot of us rely on the water here and assume it’s fine.”
Klimpke brings a practical understanding of water systems to his concerns. He previously worked as a janitor with the Interlake School Division, where he was responsible for maintaining boiler systems at the high school — a role that required close monitoring of water quality to prevent damage to equipment.
As part of that work, an outside company was brought in annually to test and treat the system water, giving Klimpke firsthand experience with how mineral levels are measured and managed.
Curious whether the issue extended beyond the Town of Stonewall into the surrounding RM of Rockwood, Klimpke asked a friend living on Winfield Road to test their water. He said the results were significantly higher than his own, with readings exceeding 900 on a TDS meter.
“To see numbers that high was really concerning,” Klimpke said.
Total dissolved solids (TDS) measure the combined content of all inorganic and organic substances dissolved in water, including minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium, as well as salts and trace metals. While these substances often occur naturally in groundwater, higher concentrations can affect water taste, hardness and scaling, and may raise concerns for long-term consumption depending on the specific composition.
Klimpke said readings approaching 500 — and especially those nearing or exceeding 900 — should prompt further investigation.
“A TDS meter is a simple tool people can use at home,” he said. “It won’t tell you exactly what’s in your water, but it can give you an idea if something might be off.”
He is encouraging residents in Stonewall and surrounding communities to use TDS meters as a first step, and to follow up with certified laboratory testing if elevated readings are found. Laboratory analysis can identify specific minerals or contaminants and determine whether levels fall within recommended guidelines.
Klimpke said his concerns also extend to the broader community, including local agricultural operations.
“We’ve got dairy farms just five miles south of Winfield Road, right in line with the quarry operations,” he said. “Water quality is critical not just for people, but for livestock and the livelihoods of those farmers.”
He believes more attention should be paid to how groundwater systems may be affected by industrial activity, noting that aquifers are shared resources that extend across municipal boundaries.
“At the end of the day, we’re all drawing from the same ground,” Klimpke said. “What affects one area can affect another.”
The Town of Stonewall says it closely monitors municipal water quality through regular testing and is not aware of any current concerns related to mineral levels or impacts from nearby quarry operations.
According to CAO Wally Melnyk, the Town conducts daily local testing of chlorine levels to ensure water in the distribution system is safe to drink. In addition, water samples are sent to a laboratory every two weeks to test for bacteria, including total coliform and E. coli.
“The quality of the water provided to residents is of utmost concern to the Town,” Melnyk said.
He added that the water supply is also tested annually for a range of parameters, including lead, nitrates, arsenic, benzene and ethylbenzene, among other substances.
Melnyk noted that the Town does not currently test for total dissolved solids (TDS), but said officials are not aware of elevated mineral content above normal levels in the local supply.
“Stonewall does have hard water and we are trying to address that issue with the reverse osmosis process being considered for the new water treatment plant,” he said.
The Town also stated it is not aware of any impacts to the aquifer used for municipal water from existing quarry operations.
Melnyk acknowledged that while the current system ensures safe drinking water through disinfection, there is limited capacity to remove minerals.
“The proposed RO system would expand the treatment capability of the water plant and allow the Town to remove increased minerals should that occur in the future,” he said.
Klimpke emphasized that his goal is not to cause alarm, but to encourage awareness and proactive testing.
“If there’s nothing wrong, then you have peace of mind,” he said. “But if there is something, at least you can deal with it early.”
Water quality can vary depending on local geology, groundwater movement and surrounding land use. Public health officials generally recommend routine testing of private water sources, particularly in rural areas where residents rely on wells or untreated supply.
