Upper York’s Sewage Could Be Going into Lake Simcoe

From Campaign Lake Simcoe June 23 2011

York Region has identified the “Lake Simcoe Innovative Alternative” as the tentatively recommended alternative for a sewage treatment to accommodate the nearly 100,000 new residents and 50,000 employees comprising East Gwillimbury, Newmarket and Aurora by 2031.

This recommendation includes a Water Reclamation Centre designed to treat sewage using wastewater purification technologies and water recycling strategies. The reclaimed waters could be used for irrigation purposes (for example sod farms, tree farms and golf courses), and for discharge to a local watercourse within the Lake Simcoe watershed.

Questions to ask at public information forums June 27 & 28:

1.    The Sewage Treatment Plant phosphorus load to the lake is the smallest of the impacts of development and growth. This is an end of the pipe solution. What improvements are made to development upstream to reduce their impacts on water quality? 

2.    Pharmaceuticals are among the other emerging concerns for water quality in Lake Simcoe. Does the reused water that could be applied to sod farms, for example, contain pharmaceutical chemicals?

3.    The new plant would replace the Holland Sewage Lagoons and flow into the East Holland River. If approved, will the project be timed and staged so that the water quality of the river never deteriorates? 

 

Monday June 27th

Open House: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.,

Presentation at 7:00 p.m., Discussion to follow

Town of East Gwillimbury Council Chambers

19000 Leslie Street, Sharon, Ontario

 

Tuesday June 28th

Open House: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.,

Presentation at 7:00 p.m., Discussion to follow

Town of Aurora Council Chambers

1 Municipal Drive, Aurora, Ontario

 

For more information, please contact:

Adrian Coombs, P. Eng.

The Regional Municipality of York

Phone: 905-830-4444 ext. 5098

Meeting materials available at www.uyssolutio ns.ca