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There’s Sewage in Your River

Waterkeepers across Canada are dealing with poorly treated or untreated sewage being dumped into their waterways. In the Ottawa river system there are over 90 wastewater treatment facilities dumping effluent into the river and over half of these facilities provide only primary treatment. In addition to receiving municipal wastewater effluent, our river system is also receiving significant quantities of untreated sewage coming from combined sewer overflows and sewage bypasses and spills that occur when systems are overloaded. During heavy rains it is common for many municipalities to bypass the treatment plant and deliberately discharge untreated sewage into the river because they have reached the capacity of their municipal system. Sewage spills and overflows can have significant human and aquatic health consequences as the sewage being released is untreated and contains pathogens, disease causing micro-organisms and nutrient-laden solids. Although facilities are often required to report spills and bypasses to the regulatory authorities, in Ontario the province is not required to release that information to the public. In Quebec, the public has access to the number of spills reported by each plant, but not the amounts spilled.

However, help may be on the way. Our Federal government is working on a Canada-wide strategy to deal with municipal wastewater effluent. Their intention is to write new regulations for municipal wastewater treatment facilities that would be enforced under the Federal Fisheries Act. Ottawa Riverkeeper has reviewed the strategy and participated in a national consultation on the details of the strategy. We want to ensure our river receives maximum protection and municipalities are held accountable to exercise due diligence to protect our aquatic ecosystems. We want to ensure your rights to swim safely in the river. You can read our submission to the Canadian Council of Ministers on the Environment regarding the strategy to reduce impacts from municipal wastewater.

Waterkeeper Network – we are not alone!

Ottawa Riverkeeper is part of a larger global movement. On 156 waterways around the world Waterkeepers are on patrol, standing up to polluters and enforcing our right to clean water. One of them is Grand Riverkeeper pictured here with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., president of Waterkeeper Alliance.

Grand Riverkeeper is working to protect the Grand (Churchill) River in Labrador. Roberta and Clarice are not dealing with small issues on their river. They are standing up to Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro as they are proposing to dam the river to build the Lower Churchill River Hydro Generation Project. Grand Riverkeeper has also brought significant attention to an ongoing local sewage issue – they are putting pressure on the council of Happy Valley-Goose Bay to clean up their practice of dumping raw sewage into the Churchill River.

Celebration!

We are happy to celebrate the first anniversary of the Ottawa Riverkeeper enews. Waves is now a monthly source of current and relevant information about our watershed. For more comprehensive yet understandable facts, check ottawariverkeeper.ca.

While most of the work we do is supported through grants, Waves is not. We are asking that you consider a financial contribution to support this unique service. Click here and contribute $10, $25, $50 or more to support Waves! A tax receipt will be available for all donations over $20. Thank you!

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^{Ottawa Riverkeeper is a charitable organization,
our business number is 862697059RR0001.}

Questions, feedback, or address changes?

We'd love to hear from you, please use our contact form to send questions or comments.

Or call our Pollution Hotline at:

1-888-9KEEPER

THANK YOU FOR READING WAVES - OTTAWA RIVERKEEPER© CITIZENS FOR HEALTHY RIVERS

Waves is Ottawa Riverkeeper's environmental e-newsletter, distributed to members and friends who wish to stay up-to-date on the latest watershed news. Concerned citizens like you are part of a watershed network of people committed to the protection and conservation of our river. Thank you for helping to keep our river healthy! This E-news highlights some of the important work made possible by your support.

To ensure delivery of your e-news please add please add enews@ottawariverkeeper.ca to your address book or safe senders list.

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P.O. Box 67008, 421 Richmond Road, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 4E4
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