Protect the
West Credit River
Updates on the Town of Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant
August 2023
Report: Erin wastewater treatment system construction expected to be complete October 2024
A lengthy article by Jordan Snobelen of the Wellington Advertiser on the status of the approved Erin wastewater treatment plant, including links, can be found here.
Aug 23, 2021
Report: no bids received on tender for Erin's wastewater treatment plant
Three pre-qualified contractors did not submit before the Aug. 19 deadline
Erin, Ontario
The Town of Erin's upcoming wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) has hit a bit of a speed bump.
A report to Erin council states the three pre-qualified contractors for the WWTP’s water resource recovery facility did not submit bids before the deadline.
The tender was first posted electronically on June 16 and closed on Aug. 19 after two extensions.
The bid was available to Bennett Mechanical Installations, Kenaidan Contracting Ltd. and Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd.
“Staff and the consulting team will be arranging meetings with the bidders to establish the reasons for not submitting bids prior to the deadline,” the report by Nick Colucci, director of infrastructure services, states.
“Subsequent to these meetings staff and the consulting team will determine the next steps to re-post the tender, revising the tender documents to incorporate the answers to the 524 questions received during the tender period.”
The town has previously awarded design and engineering contracts for the WWTP to WSP Canada Group.
The project is expected to total around $126 million with the town’s contribution estimated between $22-$32 million.
December 23, 2020
Ottawa won't order federal review of controversial wastewater treatment plant in Erin, Ont.
Opponents say the proposed plant would threaten the West Credit River
“Long live the resistance against corporate greed”
reads a citizen’s vehicle who attended the car rally & parked at the propose site for the WWTP with a sign that reads:
Erin, Ontario
The federal government says it will not push pause on plans for a controversial wastewater treatment plant in Erin, Ont., that some conservation groups and residents say threatens a pristine coldwater river.
In a decision released Wednesday, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson said that adverse effects from the facility "will be limited through project design" and that the plant will need to adhere to a host of environmental laws.
The proposed plant could eventually dump up to 7.2 million litres of treated effluent every day into the West Credit River, a small coldwater stream home to one of the few remaining wild Brook trout populations in this part of the province.
A coalition of five conservation organizations and concerned residents had formally requested that Wilkinson step in and designate the project for a federal environmental impact assessment, as he recently did with the proposed Highway 413.
That would have likely delayed construction on the initial phases of the facility — set to begin later this year — and potentially lead to design changes or even a cancellation of the project.
The plant would accommodate construction of new subdivisions in the growing but still largely rural Town of Erin, about 80 kilometres northwest of Toronto. Already in the late design stages, plans for the facility were approved by the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks in August 2019.
Opponents of the project, loosely affiliated through an organization called the Coalition for the West Credit River, told CBC News earlier this month that they feel the municipal environmental assessment fell short in several key aspects.
Among them, the group said, was a failure to account for the future impacts of climate change on the natural river system and the temperature of the effluent that would be piped into the West Credit.
The coalition and many frustrated local residents in the area — especially those who live downstream of Erin — also said the community consultation process was flawed. An online petition in support of a federal review garnered more than 22,000 signatures, while some 670 people wrote letters to Wilkinson asking for a pause on the project.
Conservative MP Kyle Seeback, who represents the riding of Dufferin–Caledon where the West Credit River is located, also presented a petition in the House of Commons in support of federal action.
In a statement, the Coalition for the West Credit River said it was disappointed in Wilkinson's decision but that it is "not deterred" by the setback.
"We will continue on with our work to protect this highly valued coldwater Brook Trout population in the West Credit River," said Judy Mabee, chair of the organization.
"We are more than willing to work with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and other federal and provincial regulators, including the Town of Erin and its consultants, to advocate for a wastewater plant that sets a new best in class industry standard for the protection of sensitive coldwater receiving streams."
The Town of Erin meanwhile finds itself in a difficult position. It expects to see substantial growth in coming decades, with the population of two main centres within the town to climb from roughly 4,500 now to as many as 10,000 by 2040.
And the municipality currently relies on aging septic tanks, which themselves pose environmental risks.
In a news release, town council said it welcomes the federal government decision.
"This is a key infrastructure project for the sustainable growth of our community," the release said.
"The protection of our environment will remain at the forefront of our discussions as this project moves forward and our advocacy with the higher levels of government is focused at making this project a viable and sustainable solution for Erin and our residents who call it home."
But opponents argue the effluent from the wastewater treatment plant would ultimately threaten the healthy, wild Brook trout that call the West Credit home.
Historically, Brook trout would have filled the many spring-fed streams that once wound through the Niagara Escarpment and its watersheds. Some still flow today, though few if any support a population of wild trout as prolific and healthy as the West Credit.
Brook trout are sensitive fish. They need cool, clean water and lots of oxygen to thrive. Water temperatures above 19 C stress them out, while temperatures in the 23 to 24 C range can be fatal.
Urban, industrial and agricultural development have contributed to a drastic decline in the number of Ontario rivers and streams that can sustain wild Brook trout, or "brookies," as many anglers affectionately call them.
Feb 20, 2021
Erin car rally protest urges town to reconsider wastewater plant
Locals and those from nearby towns drove in a loop around the proposed site in protest of what they call an unreasonable plan
Erin, Ontario
A car rally in Erin Saturday had a big turnout from locals and those from nearby municipalities to drive home a message – they aren’t on board with a wastewater treatment plant in Erin.
Saturday morning saw the protest start at the Erin Legion Branch with cars driving in a continuous loop down to the proposed wastewater plant site at 10th Line and Wellington Road 52 then back into Erin.
Supporters decked out their cars with toilet paper, plungers, homemade fish and one even pulling a trailer with a dummy sitting on a toilet.
Ken Cowling, who has been marching in protest at the proposed site for two months, is adamant the plant is bad for the area and said he’s read a lot about issues at other plants.
“The plants in Tottenham, Shelburne and Bradford have failed, all of them had failures and Bradford got fined,” Cowling said.
A concern from residents and conservation groups is the impact it will have on coldwater brook trout that inhabit the West Credit River where treated effluent will be dumped.
Ann Seymour from the West Credit River Watch said the plan is flawed because 7.2 million litres of effluent will be dumped into too small of a site which will raise the temperature and impact a nearby brook trout spawning location.
”Growth is understood but this is excessive,” Seymour said. “We would like the Town of Erin to reconsider the volume of effluent going into the river.”
Residents from towns downstream of the river also came out for the car rally.
Cowling said there were supporters from Belfountain, Forks of the Credit, Caledon and other towns as this plant will impact their communities too.
“This is a downstream water source and they’re putting 7.2 million litres of effluent in there that doesn’t remove microplastics or endotoxins or medicinal ingredients,” Cowling explained.
Some residents question what the cost to homeowners will be to hook up to the sewer system.
Previous estimates from the town put the cost to residents up to $20,000 but this could depend on the amount of government funding the project receives.
Locals Larry Scott and Bob Gibson, who took part in the car rally, both agreed they don’t think this is an honest estimate and are concerned they’ll be stuck with a huge bill for something they don’t even want.
The Town of Erin has been working toward building a wastewater plant for nearly 25 years to address projected housing growth and to get current residents off the septic system.
Mayor Allan Alls said in an email the plant is an essential addition to the community.
“The Town of Erin is behind many other communities of our size and it’s time for us to make this important investment to grow in a measured way over the next 20 years,” Alls said.
He further said he fully appreciates concerns and welcomes input at all stages of the project.
“I am committed to ensuring these concerns are addressed, particularly those regarding the environmental impacts of the project,” Alls said.
“This project is moving forward with one of the strictest sets of environmental requirements in Canada, and has been supported by a series of comprehensive assessments and studies from leading independent experts.”
Cowling was beaming with pride seeing the turnout and support for this cause. He said he’s been putting in long days to respond to requests to signs, even falling asleep at his computer in one case.
“It’s not just Ken the trout fisherman against this,” Cowling said.
December 23, 2020
Hot Sewage Stew... A Recipe for Rivercide
Native Brook Trout Won’t Survive Effluent Dumping
Belfountain, Ontario
Erin Town Council's plan to dump 7.2 million litres of sewage PER DAY into one of the best – and last remaining – native Brook Trout spawning grounds in Southern Ontario, from their proposed $120 million Waste Water Treatment Plant, is a disaster in the making for the community and environment.
Outraged downstream residents and nature-lovers are calling upon the Prime Minister and the federal government to impose a Federal Environmental Assessment to stop the degradation of one of the last pristine rivers in the GTA.
Crucial effluent temperature requirements were inexplicably dropped from the project's final municipal level Environmental Assessment. The sewage outflow does not appear to meet federal or provincial guidelines at the point of discharge, a serious matter since it determines whether the Brook Trout will live or die.
Some like it hot, but fish like it cold – a fact conveniently glossed over in the final Environmental Assessment for this project. Credit Valley Conservation, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, and the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Parks have all expressed concerns about temperature mitigation, which have evaporated in favour of ten developers.
Erin Town Council plans to dispose of their sewage across county lines into Caledon's waters but held no consultations with downstream recipients during the entire 17 years of planning for the sewage facility. The location of the plant intended to serve Erin's exploding population growth is deeply disturbing to those who will be most affected.
Currently, about 4,500 people live in Hillsburgh and Erin. While 6,000 residents were the original growth target, under Mayor Al Alls's influence, the numbers suddenly ballooned to 19,000, allowing excessive and overwhelming development of this quiet, rural area. In fact, the sewage plant is being designed ultimately to service over 25,000 people – over five times the existing population.
The West Credit River can’t handle this sudden growth. Erin's volume of sewage could easily take the river to a scorching 25 degrees C, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
For Brook Trout to survive, summer river water temperatures should never exceed 19 C. During the critical fall spawning season, our native Brook Trout need temperatures below 10 C or they will vanish from the river.
According to claims in Erin's Environmental Study Report (ESR), the effluent will always stay cooler than 19 C. However, the ESR fails to provide any limits, targets or rigorous proof to back up this assumption. The effect on the sensitive brook trout will be devastating.
The continued presence of a healthy Brook Trout population is a litmus test for river health, and a vital component in maintaining other populations in the ecosystem in balance. The end of the Brook Trout effectively sounds a death knell for the waterway.
The West Credit River urgently needs a member of the federal government to step-up.
Petition e-3194 & more
Save the Brook Trout of the Credit River, and all other vital parts of our local ecosystems by signing the petition, calling representatives like: Sylvia Jones MPP, the Town of Caledon, Region of Peel, the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to address your concerns!