Lake Ontario Waterkeeper comments on proposed expansion of outfall capacity at the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant

The Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) sits on the shore of Lake Ontario between Pickering and Ajax. The plant receives sewage from more than 800, 000 residents and has the capacity to emit 420 megalitres per day. The proposed expansion would make Duffin Creek one of the largest waste treatment plants in the province. Raw sewage that passes through the plant contains human waste, microorganisms, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and excreted pharmaceuticals which threaten the integrity of our aquatic ecosystem.

With respect, we are writing to express our concern over the expansion project and its impact on water quality and habitat in Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario provides drinking water for over 9 million people and habitat for thousands of wildlife species, thus it is essential that the Region consider all information and options seriously. The MOE study may have information that can help protect Lake Ontario and similarly the optimization of facilities and/or installation of tertiary treatment could dramatically reduce pollution and discharge into the water. The Region's refusal to accept Ajax's request to include MOE findings in the EA timeline is disheartening. Lake Ontario deserves more consideration than just the minimum requirement, as such we strongly encourage the Regions to extend the Outfall EA timeline to allow for a full review of the issues facing this area of the lake.

Read Waterkeepers full comment here.