ERIN – A group opposed to the Erin wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is calling on the federal government to conduct a thorough review of environmental impacts from the proposal.
The Coalition of the West Credit River, which represents a collection of groups opposed to the plant, is urging environment minister Jonathan Wilkinson to designate the proposal for a full impact assessment.
A major environmental concern the group has is the impact to vulnerable coldwater fish populations from the effluent raising the temperature of the stream.
Town of Erin representatives have maintained the WWTP is safe, all environmental studies support it and commenting agencies have had no concerns.
The town has also stressed the importance of building the plant to accommodate the anticipated growth over the coming decades as a majority of residents are on private septic systems.
A press release from the coalition says 673 people have written to Wilkinson in support of a deeper review and include two experts backing the request.
Jack Imhof, a retired aquatic ecologist and watershed scientist who has been studying the West Credit River since 1979, said in the release an independent federal assessment is critical to ensure brook trout and redside dace (a type of minnow) populations are healthy.
“Brook trout and redside dace populations of the credit are slim in general and only healthy in this small sub-watershed,” Imhof said. “Reasonable growth is one thing but to again sacrifice our healthy environments as a result of poor planning and inadequate design should not be allowed.”
Chris Robinson, fish and wildlife conservation programs manager with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, also said he believes further review is needed.
“The assessment of brook trout in the West Credit River and the proponent’s understanding of the potential negative impacts to brook trout are inadequate,” Robinson said.
“Previously, the status of wild brook trout in this tributary did not support the discharge of wastewater into the West Credit River. It is not transparent as to what, if anything, has changed now to allow this major development to occur.”
Robinson further adds a more thorough review may end up requiring the municipality to adopt measures to ensure appropriate water quality for the effluent.
Although proponents of the plant have said the temperature will be monitored and adjustments will be implemented as necessary, Robinson said it would be more cost-effective to proactively install technologies and “be a leader in wastewater treatment.”
