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Mr.
Katary,
Chairman, Ontario
Municipal Board Hearing regarding Munster
Wastewater.
I have been
following with great interest for a long time now, the
discussions and presentations regarding treatment of
wastewater. I have also attended several presentations at
Munster Public School and submitted written comments because I
am concerned with achieving the proper
solution.
I am unable to
present this submission in person due to another commitment
Monday and am only able to deliver it in person. I hope you
will receive this and read it.
I expect you will
be familiar with the solutions proposed and discussed over the
last several years. It is my concern that the current proposal
is not the best solution for the needs of the Munster
area.
I believe that by
removing water from the area from which it is drawn and not
returning it will, over time, lower the level of the water
table. This in turn would affect the water supply of residents
in the area and possibly the Munster main wells themselves. It
would be more that a shame if wells would need to be deepened
in the future.
Additionally,
the proposed solution would deprive the Jock River of water it
needs in the critical periods to support water life,
waterfowl, and related dependent species.
This past
year is a very good example of this situation – the water flow
and level were extremely low last summer. It is in years such
as this that it is important that some, if not most, of
Munster’s treated wastewater be directed that way. One year,
with part of the Jock River’s water source reduced, could
spell disaster for some of the life in the
river.
From what I have read on the subject of
wastewater treatment including that supplied by CRA, the
Township of Goulbourn, and the Region of Ottawa-Carleton,
I am
firmly convinced a local solution is in order and possible.
And this solution does not include lagoons. I have
submitted feedback to CRA regarding
this.
It
is possible to treat wastewater locally with minimal or no use
of lagoons and return quality, low impurity water to the
environment. Several technologies exist to perform this, to be
reliable, to be expandable if required, and to be cost
effective in operation.
It concerns me
that the proposed solution has so much potential for impact in
several areas. The pipeline solution, in addition to removing
water from the area, imposes on the pumping and pipeline
facilities of Richmond. The proposal requires off-hours
evacuation from Munster because of the loading in Richmond.
The Region are prepared, if there is a problem with the system
(Richmond and/or Munster) to use the lagoons for storage for
up to 20 days.
The proposed
solution also imposes on wetlands between Munster and
Richmond. There will be disruptions to wildlife habitat in
that zone during construction. Once in place it will be very
difficult to detect most leakages that might occur for any
reason. And it could be quite a long time afterwards that an
impact would be detected and by then wildlife and the
environment would be affected.
I am concerned also the proponents of a pipeline
are not publicizing the fact that the lagoons will still be in
semi-regular operation on an ongoing basis. It is my understanding that the purpose of a
wastewater treatment solution is to eliminate the lagoons and
their use and decommission them.
I urge you to study and consider the proposed
solution with its drawbacks and impacts outside the immediate
area.
I also ask
you (to) consider a viable solution of local treatment that
includes decommissioning of the lagoons. It is my hope
that the Board will find the latter offers the proper solution
to this problem that has been studied for so long without
resolution.
Thank you for
taking the time to read this.
Sincerely,
Keith Lindsay
P.Eng.
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