Please spend three minutes to watch this video; then consider re posting this page, wherever you can, to increase awareness.
The Towns of Erin and Hillsburgh in neighbouring Wellington County have elected to have their treated sewage discharged into the West Credit River.
There is an immediate need for response to the proposed building of a sewage treatment plant with effluent outflow at the spot of a discovered pristine cold water spring in the West Credit River.
On September 2019 MPP Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, approved the Environmental Assessment and allowed this urban development project to proceed.
There are big holes in this Environmental Assessment that require deep scrutiny.
In the middle of the Covid-19 Erin has taken its’ first step towards building this Wastewater Treatment Plant.
In addition, the rubber stamping of this approval by the Credit Valley Conservation authority seems to go in the face of their mandate:[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]to ensure Ontario’s water, land and natural habitats are conserved, restored and responsibly managed through watershed-based programs.[/dropshadowbox]
The cost for this project was estimated at $118 million dollars in 2017. You can bet your bottom dollar that that figure is already outdated. There has been significant backlash from the Erin residents themselves.
This is now the outdated assessment of the expense burden:
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]Construction Cost:
Each existing house, in the urban area, will pay towards the wastewater system and construction of the roads. This amount will be payable to the Town in a lump sum or financed through the Town for up to 15 years.
Average Capital cost:
$15,000-$18,000 (this amount will be payable after the house has been connected, payments can be spread out over 10 to 15 years).
Connection Cost:
Each existing house, in the urban area, will pay to connect their home to the pipeline. This cost could fluctuate depending on the distance from the house to the pipe. Average Connection Cost: $4,000 – $8,000 Annual Costs: Once the facility is built and the home is connected, user fees will be applied. The average costs are based off a review of wastewater rates in nearby municipalities. Annual Average User Cost: $500 – $600[/dropshadowbox]
When the first study was done by B.M. Ross in 2014 the projected population growth for Erin was to 6000; the Erin Mayor Alls, rejected this number, hired the Ainley Group, and the projected population growth grew to 19,000. The small town, quaint village, image is disappearing.
There is no disagreement on the need for growth, but there is on the proposed excessive growth.
The project should be reduced to a rational, reasonable number that the river can manage; and that would allow mitigation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
A Headwater Region is simply the wrong location for extensive urban and industrial development.
The downstream communities of Caledon and Belfountain will be suffering the outflow effects without recourse from here on in.
The issue is basically that of balancing urban sprawl against environmental conservation. More people require more services and this is to the detriment of the riparian ecology.
The mistakes we allow will reflect on the generations that follow.
You may also wish to look at the petition here:
Citizens call for referendum on wastewater treatment facility in Erin
Also see this:
If your organisation would like to endorse opposition to the Erin Wastewater plant’s plan to dump effluent into the West Credit River please feel free to contact us by leaving a comment below.
