Kam River Issues

[Some Old Guy 968]

The following two posts were emailed to me and I thought it fitting to make us aware of this issue.

Dear MOE and all concerned,

An application was recently submitted to the Environmental Commissioner to review the C of A (permit) that allows a private developer (Sibru) to dispose of sewage effluent from a multi-lot subdivision to the public navigable waterway the Kam River. The Kam River is a provincially significant wetland with a diverse aquatic and fish habitat - also a popular recreation area for swimming, fishing, paddling etc. The river flows through the City of Thunder Bay and into Lake Superior and is enjoyed by all.

The MOE has been reviewing this application for the past 60 days, but has indicated that they did not have any evidence to indicate that any adverse impacts on the environment would occur as a result of the operation of the STP. They have also made other comments to the application which will be responded to soon.

I was under the assumption that the MOE would be aware of it's own documents and associated research as to the harmful and negative impacts of treated and untreated sewage effluent on the environment. However, I have done a literature search for the MOE to assist them. See below and the attached documents. Please add these to our application for Review. If there are concerns with this, or if the Environmental Commisioner requires 2 other residents of Ontario to submit this so the MOE can have another 60 days to review - please advise us of this immediately.

The most envirionmentally sound servicing option for this subdivision would be to use the treated effluent for irrigation to the golf course and /or surrounding landscape. The district MOE had indicated in Dec 07 at a meeting that this option is viable.

This is an innovative environmental solution may even win the owners of the golf course and subdivision and the district MOE an award!

Sincerely,

The Kam River Friends.

Please read below and the attached documents:

Municipal wastewater effluents: Their effects on the environment, the economy, and human health in Canada

Urban effluents, including discharges of treated and untreated wastewater, overflows of sanitary and storm sewers, and surface water runoff, affect both human and ecosystem health. The effluent components can be chemical, physical, or biological in nature, and their impacts include changes in aquatic habitats and species composition, decreases in biodiversity, impaired use of recreational waters and shellfish harvesting areas, and contaminated drinking water (Table 3). These impacts all lead to a less valuable environment, a less prosperous economy, and, ultimately, a diminished quality of life.

http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/soer/MWWE2.cfm

Using effluent water on golf courses

In the past, communities often simply dumped effluent back into lakes and rivers. But today, golf courses are being viewed as environmentally desirable disposal sites for effluent. In fact, golf courses can serve as highly effective wastewater treatment facilities for this partially polluted water.

Dense, well-managed turfgrass areas are among the best filtration systems available for polluted water. The thatch layer in turf, which consists of dead and decaying organic material, traps and holds particulate pollutants in the water and allows them to degrade naturally. The effluent that goes on the course as irrigation is actually cleansed and returned to lakes, streams and groundwater supplies.

Golf courses can serve as highly effective wastewater treatment facilities for this partially polluted water. Dense, well-managed turfgrass areas are among the best filtration systems available for polluted water.

Communities are now recognizing that golf courses can provide an important environmental service by disposing of effluent. Recently, the city of Prineville, Ore., constructed a municipal golf course specifically to dispose of the community's wastewater. The city's innovative solution earned it recognition as the first-ever recipient of Golf Digest magazine's Environmental Leader Award.

http://www.gcsaa.org/cm/contentm/modules/d...MDAwMDMuMDAwMDU

http://www.nwogcsa.com/content/view/13/31/

Effluent Irrigation: Saskatchewan Perspective

'Effluent irrigation for disposal purposes is generally considered to be the least environmentally damaging solution to a municipal disposal problem.'

http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/csidc/csidpub5_e.htm

[Some Old Guy 968]

Good Day,

A few of the Friends of the Kam River met last evening to discuss the status of the existing sewage treatment plant at Whitewater/King George's Park and also the strategy to respond to the new proposal that the golf club (Whitewater=Bruno's Contracting=Sibru holdings) is making to take water from the Kam River AND a pond on the golf course to irrigate thier golf course.

They want to take 2 million litres of water per day from April 15 - Oct 30 (24 hrs/day) from each water source (ie. 4 million litres of water per day) for the next 10 years. This request is coming at a time of record LOW water levels in the Kam River and Lake Superior as well as other inland lakes in the watershed - ie. Dog Lake. This will impact baseline flows in the river so that there is insufficient water in the wetlands and tributaries to sustain the valued ecosystems in the river. This will negatively affect waterfront home and cottage owners, business owners and ALL recreation users of these rivers and lakes. There are new water conservation requirements set in October 2005 (since thier last permit) that must be considered. This proposal should require a FULL individual Environmental Assessment 'Bump Up' before it is considered as it is located in a Provincially Significant Wetland and is a navigable public waterway. And they are planning to take water at the same location where they are dumping the treated sewage effluent to further negatively affect the the river ecosytems. (They should be using the sewage effluent to irrigate thier golf course instead = Conservation).

A similar situation occurred in 2005 when the Ottawa's Riverbend Golf and Country Club applied for a permit to take water from the Jock River. The response to the EBR registry was overwhelming - there were 208 comments received in writing - WOW! It made a difference!

http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/...amp;language=en

And the Ottawa Riverkeeper (A concerned organization established to protect the Ottawa River) responded with a fantastic letter and the application for the permit was denied by the MOE.

http://ottawariverkeeper.ca/issues/applica...m_jock_r_denied

This proposal is still open to comments until May 9, 2008.

http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/...amp;language=en

We ALL must respond this time either on-line or in writing. Unlike the sewage treatment plant that recieved NO comments and was approved without our knowlege - we need to state our comments before the deadline.

I don't have everyone's email - please share this by email, phone etc so that more people are aware and can respond.

I'll keep you all informed of our response - I am trying to get some data re: lowest water volumes/levels of the Kam river over the past 5 years etc. We are also looking into forming a group like the Ottawa Riverkeeper.

Regards,

[Guest TerryK]

Wow.

We're going to have to get involved with this one.

[Some Old Guy 968]

Please see the attached notice on the EBR registry:

http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/...amp;language=en

The golf course is now wanting to renew it's permit to take water from the Kam river to irrigate the golf course. There is a 30 day appeal that we have to review and comment on this proposal - last date to submit comments is May 9, 2008.

Now is our chance to make a case for change - rather than take the clean water from the river to irrigate their golf course, we oppose this and recommend that they use the effluent from their sewage works for irrigation. See the attached. This is a way to renew and recycle water - more eco-friendly. Also, a conservation of water during the summer months when water levels are at their lowest.

Please link onto the EBR notice and submit your comments to oppose the permit to take water and recommend that the golf course use it's effluent for irrigation - Renew, Recycle and Conserve. Much more Eco-friendly and will preserve our river and fish.

Thanks,

[Guest hardcorefishn]

Logged on, Comment sent.

hardcorefishn

[Guest _TY87_]

If somebody can tell me how I can get involved... this really ticks me off.

[Some Old Guy 968]

My comment also sent.

Roger

[CaddisMan 1]

Bruno can't use water exclusively from the water treatment plant because people actually have to LIVE there! I see only 11 or so houses on this "prime real estate development" of theirs. So, they have to take from the river. His lot prices are as outrageous as his request .....