Rainy days bring murkier waters
You ask... We answer.
Q: I often walk the Merritt Trail along the old canal in St. Catharines Centennial Gardens and was wondering why the water is so grey looking. Is it that polluted or is in from minerals in the water? For water that is moving, it isn’t very clean looking.
A: A grey murkiness in the water of the old Welland Canal in the centrally-located park is most likely due to storm water.
St. Catharines environmental services manager Mark Green said the majority of water in the old Welland canal comes from the current Welland Canal and ultimately from Lake Erie. A lot of storm water outfalls are connected to the system so when it rains, there are a number of pipes in St. Catharines and Thorold that discharge storm water into the old canal.
The rain water picks up dust, dirt, debris, litter, garbage, pesticides, fertilizer, and all types of pollutants along the way.
“The old canal goes through the middle of St. Catharines so it’s a heavily urbanized area,” Green said. “In the winter you could have road salts and sand gets washed in as well.”
In fact, at one time the old canal was the site of major industry in the city. Paper mills and other manufacturers would have discharged into the Welland Canal.
Today, Green said particles like sand and dirt can make the water look grey. Other creeks in St. Catharines would have similar characteristics from storm water pollution.
While an urban water course won’t have the same water quality that’s expected in a more natural setting, Green said it shouldn’t have any sheen on top.
If citizens see a shine that looks like gas, oil or diesel on the water, they should call the ministry of environment’s spills action centre.
Q: Many friends have been wondering why there is a mountain of dirt growing behind the Canadian Tire store on Woodlawn Road in Welland, just west of the 406 highway.
A: The mountain of dirt in Welland is a landfill that’s going to reach the end of its growth spurt soon.
The site was Atlas Steel’s original private landfill that was opened in the 1930s or 40s. According to the Welland Tribune, the company dumped about 735,000 cubic metres of waste there, mostly slag from electric arc welding. After Atlas closed in the early 2000s, the city acquired the landfill property. It partnered up with Walker Industries in 2010 to continue operating it as a landfill with non-hazardous waste.
The city has earned an estimated $4.5 million through tipping fees and lease payments on the site.
Welland city planner Grant Munday said the Ministry of Environment only allows landfills to become so big and within the next year, the Atlas landfill is expected to reach capacity. At that point, it will be capped off with clean soil and turned into a municipal park.
A concept plan for Welland Vista Park was developed by Dillon Consulting with help from Niagara College’s environmental management assessment program and public consultation. A presentation to Welland council in November showed possible walking paths, natural gardens, interpretive nature trails and shaded areas.
Other Niagara municipalities have converted landfills into parks, including Jaycee Gardens in St. Catharines, Elm Street Naturalization site in Port Colborne and Station Road Naturalization Site in Wainfleet.
Q: What is that Wi-Fi tower being built in front of the rose garden in Montebello Park in St. Catharines?
A: The smart kiosk in Montebello Park is one of three being installed downtown in a pilot project between the city and Bell Canada.
The kiosks feature 55-inch LED touch screens and will provide free Wi-Fi within a 70-metre range.
They will also have USB ports for free charging of devices, a 911 call button, wayfinding signage and information about the city.
City council authorized the partnership with Bell in March and costs were discussed incamera. The kiosks are supposed to be self-sustaining and provide new advertising revenue for the city. They should be installed and operational soon.
Besides the kiosk by the rose garden, others are being installed in the courtyard of the central library and at Market Square on the King Street side.