Accessibility and Access Keys [0]
Richmond Village Association president Bruce Webster is not satisfied with an Ontario Ministry of the Environment response about the possibility of a stand-alone sewage treatment plant for Richmond that would discharge into the Jock River.
After hearing a report about the Ministry’s response to an inquiry by city of Ottawa Rideau/Goulbourn ward councillor Glenn Brooks at the Wednesday, Nov. 25 meeting of the Richmond Plan steering committee of which he is a member, Mr. Webster has indicated that he will be following up on the matter with the Ministry.
The Ministry, in its response to councillor Brooks, has said that the Ministry will not allow any new sewage treatment plants discharging into the Rideau River watershed, which includes the Jock River, because such discharges would degrade the already degraded state of the watershed’s water resources.
However, the Ministry does admit that if a sewage treatment plant discharged sewage effluent that was of better quality than the water in the river, then the proposal would be considered.
The Ministry, though, goes on to suggest that such a sewage treatment plant would be very expensive and that in the experience of the Ministry staff, there is no existing municipal sewage treatment system in Eastern Ontario that meets this standard.
Councillor Brooks took the Ministry’s response as sitting on the fence.
“They are not saying absolutely no but they are not saying absolutely yes,” he said.
Mr. Webster noted that both Westport and Manotick have sewage treatment systems that are discharging into the Rideau River watershed. He also noted that the Ministry says that its staff is not aware of any such plants that meet the standard but then goes on to say that such a plant would be expensive. If there are none, how can a judgment be made on the expense.
Mr. Webster said that there are experts in the Ottawa area who would object to the Ministry’s assessment of the cost and discharges of such plants.
“We believe it is possible and it is cost effective as well,” Mr. Webster said.
“It’s a strong hill to push the stone up,” he said but he pledged to contact the Ministry over the matter.
Councillor Brooks urged that the Ministry be asked if it is aware of the Westport and Manotick sewage treatment plants and if they have information about them and specifically if such plants would be allowed in today’s situation regarding water quality.