Pollution level ‘astonishing’: report
Municipal raw sewage, fertilizer runoff and more flow into lakes and rivers
An “astonishing amount” of pollution still flows into Ontario’s lakes and rivers and the government must take action, says the province’s environmental watchdog.
The main pollutants are raw municipal sewage, agricultural manure or fertilizer runoff, toxic waste and road salt, Dianne Saxe said Tuesday in releasing her annual report.
“It is unbelievable that, in 2018, the government allows this much filth … these are the places where Ontarians spend time with their families, where they swim and fish. These shorelines and waters are home to Ontario’s rich biodiversity, and to us,” she said.
“The Ontario government has known about this for decades, but has consistently chosen not to regulate these pollutants ef- fectively,” said the environmental commissioner, an independent position that is appointed by MPPs from all parties.
Saxe went on to say that “in heavy rains, 44 Ontario municipalities still overflow their combined sewer and spill filthy, bacteria-laden sewage into lakes and rivers. This occurred 766 times last year alone, from Toronto to Moonbeam.
“Despite closed beaches and decades of concern, the government still has not required these municipalities to do everything practicable to stop their overflows … Municipalities could do more with stormwater fees and green infrastructure to keep stormwater from flooding combined sewers.” Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner called the phenomenon “unacceptable. It is just absolutely disgusting to think that we are still dumping raw sewage into our waterways,” he said at Queen’s Park. “That’s the water we drink, that’s the water our kids swim in, that’s the water people fish in — and the gov- ernment is allowing raw sewage to be dumped in.
“This government must pick up the ball that the previous government dropped in protecting our water,” Schreiner added.
“I’m calling on the Ford government to take action now to put an end to using our lakes and rivers as a sewer … Water is life. Clean water is essential to our health and well-being, as well as our economy. People deserve clean drinking water. Farmers and other businesses depend on clean water,” he said.
Saxe noted that since the Walkerton tainted water tragedy 18 years ago, “much has been done to make drinking water sources safer,” but warned that funding for source water protection could end next March. Environment Minister Rod Philips said the source water protection plans currently in place have always come under yearly review. “I saw her commentary around it, and we’ll take that into consideration,” he told reporters at Queen’s Park.