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A surface water testing program will continue in the Town of Arnprior in 2010, after results from 2009 testing provided valuable information to the municipality.
Environmental engineering technologist Heather Gough presented local legislators with a detailed report at the Jan. 4 Committee of the Whole meeting.
It was back in February 2009 that council first directed staff to undertake surface water testing for total coliform and e-coli at various locations along the Ottawa and Madawaska rivers. The rationale for the additional testing was to compare the results of surface water samples to effluent samples taken at the Water Pollution Control Centre (WPCC) and comparing the results for wastewater bypasses.
A total of seven dedicated sample locations were chosen and sampling was done between June 1 and Sept. 15, 2009. They included Sandy Beach, the Yacht Club, McLean Park, Raw Water Pumping Station, Head Pond (Baskin Drive Boat Launch), Arnprior Marina and the WPCC plant. With the exception of the sample taken at the plant, all were surface water. The plant sample was effluent.
Some sample locations are located upstream of the WPCC while others are located downstream. The dedicated sampling day was set to every Wednesday so as to compare the results to the testing done every Wednesday at the WPCC.
In her report, Gough noted that in most cases “locations downstream of the WPCC (on regular dedicated sampling dates) demonstrated higher e-coli counts, than e-coli counts recorded at the WPCC.”
As well, “locations downstream of the WPCC demonstrated higher counts of total coliform and e-coli following either a secondary or raw wastewater by-pass as compared to the dedicated sampling results.”
She also noted that the “results of effluent (treated wastewater) tested at the WPCC demonstrated low e-coli counts on the dedicated sampling dates and following secondary by-passes, with higher counts during raw by-passes.”
It was interesting to note that “in most cases, but not all, the downstream locations demonstrated higher counts of total coliform and e-coli (on regular sampling dates) than the upstream locations.” As well, the “total coliform and e-coli counts were higher at the locations upstream of the WPCC, following a major storm event.”
Councillor Eric Burton wondered how the average count for each location was determined. Gough said the average is the result of all the results collected.
“Our averages are based on one sample taken that particular day,” she replied.
“I find this report very interesting. I am supportive of continuing this next year,” councillor Tom Peckett stated, adding that it was interesting to see some higher e-coli and coliform counts about the WPCC.
“It’s not always the WPCC creating the problem,” he noted.
Councillor Mark Willmer noted that to make the results “truly meaningful,” the testing must continue for a few years. As well, he added he was also surprised with the results of higher e-coli and coliform upstream of the WPCC.
“Whenever we would sample (at the upstream locations of Sandy Beach or the Head Pond) after a heavy storm event, counts are higher. The samples are taken at locations close to agriculture land uses,” Gough explained.
Willmer noted the testing reveals that it is not only what the town is putting out into the water at the Water Pollution Control Centre that must be watched, but pollutants from other sources.
“The point of the exercise was not to allocate blame but that whomever is responsible can be aware,” said mayor Terry Gibeau. “I think we need to do it again.
“We were looking for the data you’ve give us,” he told Gough.
Burton suggested there is a need for a “broader co-ordinated approach” and suggested the report be forwarded to The Ottawa Riverkeeper.
“For any report like this to be relevant, you need more than one year,” added Willmer.
The mayor noted both the Renfrew County District Health Unit and Ministry of the Environment were aware the town was undertaking this surface water sampling.
Gough said it will be interesting to see what further testing will show with regards to upgrades at the WPCC as well as the work the town has done separating water and sewage lines at several locations.