The provincial government will decide in the coming weeks whether to cancel or suspend Atlantic Environmental Systems’ permit, after receiving a series of complaints. It comes after the door-to-door company’s licence was pulled in P.E.I. last August for high pressure sales tactics and targeting vulnerable seniors. Atlantic Environmental appealed that decision and lost.For Natalie Lent, every day in her home feels like a boil water advisory since she only uses bottled water, even for cooking.
"There was a sulphur smell, the water was quite hard. So that was one of the priorities on the list of things that I had to do was to put in a water system because water is a necessity," she said. It comes after receiving a series of complaints from homeowners across Nova Scotia, and follows a P.E.I. decision last August that revoked the company's licence. Atlantic Environmental
"Many of these residents were seniors, and some were suffering from debilitating diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's and dementia. Their age, coupled with the fact that these salespeople were present in their home — often at night and for several hours — made them particularly vulnerable," said Thompson in his decision.
Corrine Pothier of Wedgeport, N.S., considers herself one of the unhappy customers. In February, the 81-year-old received a phone call saying she had recently completed a survey and won a first aid kit. "I'm like, what? You're going to end up paying like 15 grand for this stuff by the time it's all said and done. And not even that, you're 81-years-old … what the heck?" said Pothier.
Michele Tabb, Corrine Pothier and Michele Pothier say they're frustrated with Atlantic Environmental Systems after a sales blitz last February targeted their communities in southwest Nova Scotia. The precipitation test is one of the first demos laid out in the script — one the sales agents are to return to throughout their time in the home as they describe the results as a "mess." The test shows a chemical reaction that makes any mineral in people's tap water appear cloudy even if it's not a health concern, according to two water experts who spoke with CBC.
Ron Hoffmann is professor at the University of Toronto specializing in water quality. He says homeowners should be cautious about buying water systems from vendors who sell door to door. Aline Thibodeau of Herring Cove said she immediately assumed it was fraudulent. An avid bingo player, she recognized that B91 and I79 are not legitimate bingo numbers.
The company has been back to her home to test the water and adjust the levels on two different occasions. Lent said her water continues to leave a white residue on her dishes, hardware and countertops. She cannot afford to pay for another system."It's like a bad dream that I wish I could wake up from because it's affected me on so many levels," she said. "I do need to have something in place because I do have hard water. It makes me nervous.