PACT POW Meeting with the Minister – key messages
PACT POW would like to thank Minister Bradley for taking time to meet with us today. Also, We thank
MPP Joe Dickson for arranging this meeting.
PACT POW has been working for over a year on understanding and communicating the issues with
regard to the causes to the citizens in Pickering/Ajax , the impacts and solutions to the excessive algae
choking the near shore line of Ajax/Pickering waterfront. Our information package contains data on the
extent of this support from residents/visitors from Bowmanville to Markham.
This algae is fed by soluble phosphorus (SRP), more than 90% of which comes from the Duffins
Creek WPCP.
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This algae is destroying fish habitat, closing our beaches, and causing noxious odours
that keep our families off the beaches all summer long. Residents have reported closing
windows and turning on Air Conditioning, in order to avoid the stench from rotting algae.
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The impact on tourism is already happening, with odours this past summer causing
citizens of Ontario to take refuge in their car. While other citizens continue their walk.
“Nauseous” was the description given by those people, including M.P. wife Mrs
Alexandra.
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We look to you, Minister Bradley, to make the WPCP reduce it’s SPR concentration in
the effluent to the levels targeted for the UYSS discharging into Lake Simcoe..
The Regions’ DENY that their effluent feeds algae from the Duffins Sewage treatment plant and
propose nothing to reduce it.
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The fact remains, we CAN control the SRP in the effluent from the Duffins WPCP.
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At Lake Simcoe, the Regions ACKNOWLEDGE their effluent feeds algae and are going
to great lengths to REDUCE phosphorus in effluent.
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Why? Because the M.O.E. required them to do so in the UYSS, and we request you ask
for the same standard for Ajax/Pickering waterfront.
We feel the present EA is allowing the “status quo” with regards to SRP.
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We are disappointed with the outcome of the EA and the chosen alternative is equivalent
to putting your thumb over the end of a hose to shoot it out faster and farther.
The Regions propose to spend nothing on phosphorus reduction, and to keep spewing out 311
kg/day, every day, all year, for MANY decades.
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At Lake Simcoe, the Regions propose to spend $500 million to REDUCE phosphorus to
the lowest levels Ontario has requested.
We have a problem TODAY in Lake Ontario as existing phosphorus loads have already caused
the Algae on our lakefronts.
PACT POW Meeting with the Minister – key messages
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We need a ROLLBACK of phosphorus discharges to Lake Ontario near the shore line,
just like what is required for Lake Simcoe.
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The Regions will not reduce phosphorus in the effluent unless they are forced to under
your direction.
There are much cheaper ways to control SRP in effluent than the solution proposed in the
UYSS – ways the Regions have not even considered in their EA.
If Lake Simcoe deserves protection from too much phosphorus, we demand nothing less for our
communities nearshore of Lake Ontario.
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Make Duffins Creek WPCP keep its SRP out of our nearshore.
MOE has shown great leadership at Lake Simcoe but has been missing in action on this file –
and the Regions know it. Don’t let them ignore the problem any longer.
SEE ALTERNATE ENDING BELOW.
We request that the M.O.E. MANDATE the Regions TO find and implement the solution. Let us
work with you to celebrate how hard you are working to protect the Great Lakes. We want you
to require the Regions to do the following:
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Make significant reductions in phosphorus – particularly SRP – in WPCP effluent, as a
condition of the Regions’ ECA.
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Make significant reductions of SRP in the WPCP effluent by use of the best available
technology to remove > 98% of SRP from effluent - such as Actiflo, used in Syracuse to
remove SRP (not even considered by the Regions).
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Prohibit point source SRP discharges into prime cladophora habitat in the Ajax
nearshore (areas where light and substrate support nuisance algae growth).
The Citizens of Ajax and Pickering ask you to continue being a Minister of Environment that
leads the way for protection of the great lakes as you were for Lake Simcoe.
ALTERNATE ENDING
Minister Bradley, you are an environmentalist, you have a track record in the past and present
(bill 6.)understood there is a need to reduce SRP levels in Lake Ontario and Lake Simcoe. We
now ask you to require the second largest WPCP in Canada to do the same for Lake Ontario’s
near shore by:
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Make significant reductions of SRP in the WPCP effluent by use of the best available
technology to remove > 98% of SRP from effluent - such as Actiflo, used in Syracuse to
remove SRP.
PACT POW Meeting with the Minister – key messages
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Prohibit point source SRP discharges into prime cladophora habitat in the Ajax
nearshore (areas where light and substrate support nuisance algae growth).
There has been a ground swell of support for protecting the quality of our water and the quality
of Life around our waterfront. We support your efforts with regard to protecting the Great Lakes
through BILL 6 and through the Canada-Ontario Agreement, which you are attempting to renew.
Let us work with you to celebrate how hard you are working to protect the Great Lakes.
Thank You for your time today, we hope that we have helped shed light on where Residents of
Ajax and Pickering stand on this issue.