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The city has identified three options to stop sewer overflow into the Ottawa River and meet provincial regulatory standards and is now looking to the public to aid with the final decision.
Four public open houses were held across the city recently to receive public input.
Currently the city is working on a project action plan to protect water quality and keep all discharges from entering the river, with a significant focus on projects related to the management of combined sewer overflow (CSO), storm water and environmental aspects.
“We are on track to eliminate overflows completely by the beginning of 2012,” said Alta Vista ward Coun. Peter Hume at a recent community meeting. “You will see over the next two to three years a significant investment in the Ottawa River. In fact, construction going on now will reduce overflows to the Ottawa River by 65% by spring of next year.”
“(CSOs) are a problem of old infrastructure that municipalities have and Ottawa is not unique. This exists in Smiths Falls, Kingston and many other municipalities across the country,” said Bay ward Coun. Alex Cullen. “It’s from an old era of combined storm and sanitary sewers that were allowed to overflow into nearby rivers after severe rainstorms. Clearly we don’t permit this today, modern standards have treatment ponds and separate systems in place and most of our newest subdivisions reflect that.”
However, Coun. Cullen noted improper infrastructure is still in place in older parts of the city, such as downtown and Manor Park.
When Ottawa receives a heavy rainfall, sewers are filled to capacity and the surcharge is dispersed into the Ottawa River system. The three options will either significantly reduce the surcharge in the river or stop it all together.
Felice Petti, manager of strategic and environmental services at the city, explained that Option A would be to build a 15-million litre storage tank to hold most of the overflows in an average year.
“It would store a certain number of overflows and after the (rainfall) passes discharge that flow back into the collection system at the treatment centre,” he explained. “This is the least expensive and is the minimum we can do, as far as meeting regulatory standards.”
With Option A, an overflow would impact the Ottawa River only once or twice per season. This option would cost the city $40-60 million and take four to five years to implement.
Option B would cost $95-140 million and would take five to six years to complete. A larger version than the first option, it recommends constructing a 45-million litre holding tank, which would hold all overflows in an average rainfall year.
“Option C is really about correcting the problem by going back into the neighbourhoods and separating storm sewers from sanitary,” said Mr. Petti. “We would go to every street, laying the second pipe and connecting that to every household.”
Due to the significant amount of construction required for this option, the price tag is estimated at $1.3 – 2.2 billion with 30 to 50 years needed to complete the work. There is 2,100 kilometres of pipe running throughout Ottawa presently.
Last year, with the help from the federal and provincial governments, an Ottawa River Fund was created, with $139 million provided for creating an action plan and the start of implementation.
“This project shows the serious commitment by council to deal with our long-standing sewer discharge into the Ottawa River,” said Coun. Cullen. “I don’t have a preference because it’s a balancing act. You want to have the best solution but also bear in mind the money is coming from the taxpayers’ pocket.”
He encourages residents to think about their grandchildren’s future needs when making their decision.
Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Gord Hunter said he thinks all the plans are expensive and wants residents to take a long look at each option before making a final decision.
“Don’t expect a miracle solution if we spend $100 million on stopping the overflow,” he said.