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The Ottawa River Action Plan is intended to deal with the problem of untreated sewage going into the Ottawa River when it rains. It is also meant to address other problems affecting the river.
Consultations are being held on the three options for dealing with untreated sewage going into the river. Both the cost and what will be achieved by the options varies.
Information on the plans and an online survey can be found at ottawa.ca/residents/waterwaste/river_action/.
The problem is that in older parts of the City of Ottawa, like other cities, there is one sewer system for both sanitary sewage and storm water. When it rains, the system can’t handle the volume and the overflow goes into the Ottawa River without being treated.
Complete separation of the storm and sanitary sewers in the current combined sewer area would eliminate the problem of untreated sewage going into the Ottawa River in all but very heavy rainfall, but it could cost as much as $2.2 billion. Use of storage tanks for stormwater during wet weather would eliminate all but two overflows a year and would cost between $40 million and $140 million.
We all want to reduce the amount of untreated sewage flowing into the Ottawa River by as much as possible. We also want to make sure that funds are there to meet needs like improvements to stormwater management to prevent flooding problems. Because of what is at stake, feedback is important.
There are also still two public meetings. They will be: Monday, Nov. 30, 6 until 8 p.m. at the Nepean Sportsplex (1701 Woodroffe Ave.), Hall C and D, and Tuesday, Dec. 1, 6 until 8 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion, Orleans (800 Taylor Creek Dr.).