Questionnaire on Noise

There have been some progressive steps taken in our Noise search. In this month's Ranchland's Round Up, a noise questionnaire is being circulated for residents of Ranchlands and other Northwest residents. The questionnaire is part of the research project into the Noise being conducted by University of Calgary's Dr. M. Epstein and Richard Patching. Residents reading this blog who are bothered by unidentified noise are encouraged to fill out and return the questionnaire. Those without access to the Ranchlands Round Up may contact Dr. Epstein at: epstein@ucalgary.ca

Preliminary recordings done by Richard Patching are providing hard evidence of the Noise. Richard is willing, and hoping to come to individual resident's homes and take recordings as part of the effort to identify the humming noise's source.

SUCCESS STORY: Two Calgary residents who were bothered by a constant low-frequency humming noise have had it stopped! In both cases, the cause was related to the Water Department. Please be sure to let us know if you've had a problem with an unidentified noise that has been resolved.

Green Power Box Humming Loudly - A Clue?

During the last few days, the green electrical box located across the alley behind our house has been humming very loudly. The volume the noise is at is such that if two people were standing beside it they would have difficulty holding a conversation. One night, the loud noise emanating from the green box persisted until 2:15 AM when it just stopped. It was like a switch was thrown. There was no noise coming from the box for the rest of the night/morning. However, the following day, the green box was again humming as loudly as it was a few hours before.

Is this a piece of the puzzle? If so, what does it mean? More questions needing answers.

Recordings done over a few days

As part of the investigation spearheaded by the U of C into this noise, we had recording devices set up here at our place in Ranchlands this week. We are very keen to see the interpretation given the recordings by the noise researcher, particularly as at one instance, the noise was very strong in our house.

We will post the findings in the next short while.

CBC Calgary News

CBC Radio News and TV News covered the noise issue this week. The print version & links to the radio and TV versions can be found at:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/06/01/calgary-noise-ranchlands-hum.html

You may have to copy and paste the above link into a new browser window. The link was still active as of Sep 24.

Updates Coming Soon

There will be a CBC Radio News coverage of the noise problem within the next week or two. Additionally, a research group from the U of C plans to conduct a study on how noise affects people. They will be helping us locate and identify the noise in Ranchlands.

Within the last week, the noise in our neighbourhood has significantly increased in intensity. It is perplexing. What could now be running, that was not running before, to cause this problem? We are hoping to have some answers, soon.

More Ranchlands residents are being in touch to tell their story of being bothered by the low-frequency humming. Coincidentally, many people noticed the noise starting at about the same time.

Keep an ear out for the CBC Radio spot airing as soon as next week. An updated post will be published here, soon afterwards.

Feel free to be in touch either here with a comment, or via email at jmidi@hotmail.com.

Noise Proving More Than April Fools

The noise was thankfully absent for most of March in Ranchlands. However, it started again, with renewed power, in the last week of the month and has been plaguing us continually ever since.

Two changes that coincide with the resurgence of the noise are the additional work being done on the condominium building in our neighbourhood, and the lights going on at the new Crowfoot LRT station. These likely are coincidences in and of themselves; but, perhaps the activation of power at these sites may be a clue as to the cause of this bothersome noise.

The Ranchlands Community Association has been gracious in allowing an article on noise problems to run in the community newsletter, the Ranchlands Round Up. The articles have generated considerable response (including the CTV News spot), and prove to be a worthwhile way to communicate with the community.

Members of other communities have been following the articles, too. Members of communities from other Northwest neighbourhoods, neighbourhoods in the SouthEast and in the SouthWest are reporting seemingly identical noise problems as the low-frequency one we are dealing with in Ranchlands. Are they related?

Anyone from other neighbourhoods who are interested in generating a community response may well consider contacting their respective community organizations. There may be more people out there having to deal with similar noise problems that we are not aware of. It would be good to hear from as many people as we can.

Those interested in running an article in their neighbourhood newsletters who would like some advice, feedback, or a friendly word on how to do so, feel free to be in touch - jmidi@hotmail.com. Help, or at the very least an empathetic ear, is just a couple clicks away.

Suggestions if you are hearing noise

There has been quite a bit of activity since CTV News aired the spot about the humming noise being heard in our house and neighbourhood. Thank you for the messages!

Some suggestions to those of you who are living with unidentified noise in your house:

1. Call 3-1-1 and explain the situation.
2. Call each of the utility companies:
- Enmax
- Atco
- Calgary Waterworks & Sewer
3. Call 3-1-1 and ask to speak to a Bylaw Officer.
4. Call your Alderman, explain the situation & request assistance.
5. Call your Community Organization, explain the situation & request assistance.

Please send an email to jmidi@hotmail.com, too. Help is just a click away! Please let others know how things are going.