Waste Management News
Upper York Sewage Solutions (UYSS)
Proposal to develop a sustainable sewage servicing solution to accommodate the provincially-approved growth forecasted to occur in the Upper York Sewage Solutions service area, including the Towns of Aurora, East Gwillimbury and Newmarket.
Originally targeted for 2018 and moved back to 2020, this proposal was mandated by the Government of Ontario to take the pressure off Lake Ontario and the Big Pipe.
Expected cost is $600 million. (article)
Proponents say the project will provide a benefit to the Holland River and Lake Simcoe through advanced purification systems, stormwater management upgrades and a net reduction of 336 kg of phosphorus per year going in to the Lake Simcoe watershed.
Opponents say the sewage solution to accommodate growth in the south by dumping 40 million litres of effluent daily into the lake will turn Lake Simcoe into a giant toilet. (petition, article) Fears that phosphorus, pharmaceuticals, microbeads, personal care products, and other contaminants will pass through filtering and wind up in the lake.
First Nations
The Chippewas of Georgina, Georgina Island First Nation (GIFN), are currently under a boil water advisory (Feb-2016) and are concerned about water quality as well as the validity of scientific claims.
GIFN would like to be actively consulted on the project, as is their right.
GIFN would like the water infrastructure on their island to be made good in operational condition.
GIFN notes that the former Thane aluminum smelter in Keswick, shutdown in 1997, is an illegal waste site that is contaminating groundwater and seeping into Lake Simcoe. GIFN would like to see the clean-up of the Thane smelter. (petition)
Lake Simcoe Protection
Additionally the 2008 Lake Simcoe Protection Act included that no new treatment plants, in addition to the 15 existing, be added as one of its key regulations. However, that was overruled by the ministry in 2010.
Approval Process:
Notice of Complete & Received Application / Public Meeting
Environmental Assessment
Ministry approval
Zoning By-law amendment
Official Plan amendment
County Official Plan amendment approval
Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority approval
Air permit
Lake Simcoe provides the drinking water for x people.
Timeline (chronological order)
|
Date |
Event |
|
2009-2010 |
Terms of Reference (TOR): approved TOR Submitted: November 20, 2009 Expiry of public comment period: December 21, 2009 Decision Date: March 11, 2010
|
|
2011 |
First public meeting in Keswick |
|
2014-2016 |
Environmental Assessment (EA): ministry review completed EA Submitted: July 25, 2014 Expiry of public comment period: September 12, 2014 Expiry of public comment period for ministry review: February 26, 2016
|
|
2022-2023 estimate |
Expected retrofit of 7 existing stormwater management ponds in the south, as well as $1 million retrofit of the one in Georgina |
|
2024 estimate |
Completion of the water reclamation centre (article) |
NEWS (reverse chronological order)
|
Date |
Source |
Title |
Comment |
|
2017-07-07 |
Change.org |
Petition: Stand with Georgina Island First Nation to Protect the Lake Simcoe Watershed |
|
|
2016-02-18 |
YorkRegion.com |
Still questions surrounding how proposed sewage solution will impact Georgina residents |
Heidi Riedner, Georgina Advocate |
|
2016-01-05 |
Water Canada |
James Careless |
|
|
2015-02-04 |
YorkRegion.com |
Delay of Upper York Sewage Solution could stall growth in northern York Region |
Simon Martin, East Gwillimbury Express |
More Information:
Friends of Georgina Island First Nation (GIFN) #GIFNLakeGuardians
Other:
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Disclaimer: This information has been compiled through private amateur research for the purpose of allowing the reader to make an informed and educated decision. However, while the information is believed to be reliable, accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
APPENDICES
https://awareontario.nfshost.com/AWARE-Ontario/Issues/WM_York/Upper_York_Sewage.htm