Comment from a member of the public regarding the Erin WWTP Designation Request

Dear Honorable Ministers Wilkinson, McKenna and Jordan,

As a long time resident of west Caledon, who moved here when the region was small towns, rolling hills and pristine rivers, I am shocked at how quickly we have moved into a rapid growth mindset with no apparent concern from our provincial or municipal governments for the permanent environmental damage being caused. 

I recognize the need for populations to grow but this should be done in a manner that preserves the surrounding environment as best as reasonably possible. Placing a waste treatment plant in a river valley that supports one of the few remaining habitats in southern Ontario for brook trout is non-sensical. It is decision making based on short term gain for a few with irreversible long term damage for the rest. It needlessly places brook trout and countless other species at risk.

With this in mind, I am writing to express my strong support of the Coalition for the West Credit River in its request for the Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant to be designated as a Project under subsection 9(a) of the Impact Assessment Act.   

The West Credit River has some of the most productive Brook Trout spawning reaches and the longest contiguous habitat in the Credit River watershed.  Brook trout are a sentinel species signaling cool pristine waters and natural wild spaces.  Brook Trout are a highly sensitive coldwater species and their survival relies on stream temperatures no greater than 19 °C to 20 °C for any sustained period of time.

I am opposed to this Project because Erin Council’s sewage plant will place Brook Trout and Redside Dace in the West Credit River in peril by destroying their coldwater habitat.

  •           Brook trout will not survive for long with over 7 million liters of sewage effluent dumped daily into their West Credit River coldwater habitat.

  •           Brook Trout and Redside Dace are highly sensitive species that will be subject to warmer stream temperatures, chronic exposures to elevated chloride, and possibly unionized ammonia and pharmaceuticals.

  •           Cumulative effects in the Environmental Study Report did not address any past, present and planned projects in the subwatershed on the environment, but instead only emphasized the benefits of the Project in replacing leaking septic systems in the community.

I urge you to approve the Coalition’s Designation Request and ensure a full federal review under the Impact Assessment Act.  Thank you!

Sincerely,

 Phil Winters

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                 Phil Winters
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