EloraFergusToday received the following letter from the Coalition for the West Credit River.
We can all be good stewards of the environment
The Coalition for the West Credit River is responding to a 14 August 2024 article entitled, Erin wastewater construction leak poses ‘no threat to the environment’. While a sediment control bag did leak on Water Street and into the Credit River yesterday night, the Town of Erin says it's 'harmless'.
Contrary to the claim made by the town, photos have circulated, casting doubt on this conclusion. The coalition is concerned with witness reports and photos of a light grey plume moving through the riverine ecosystem and the deposition of a similar light grey material settling into the riverbed. We question:
• Did a Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) inspector actually attend the spill site and take turbidity measurements to support its conclusion of a ‘harmless slurry of sand and groundwater’?
• Did the sediment spill exceed the 25 milligrams per litre above the background target recommended in the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards for erosion and sediment inspection and monitoring in Canada?
• Does the contractor have a certified erosion and sediment control inspector on this project?
When a sediment bag fails, if it is doing its job, it is considered a catastrophic event when those captured pollutants enter the river. Sediment deposited on the bed of the stream can suffocate and kill sensitive aquatic insects such as mayflies, caddis flies, and stoneflies. These species are the food source for predators like trout. Suspended sediment can suffocate developing fish embryos in the riverbed and damage the gills of sensitive fish species like Brook Trout. This is why the Fisheries Act has designated sediment as a deleterious substance, and the CSA Group has sediment control standards to protect the aquatic environment (https://www.csagroup.org/article/how-erosion-and-sediment-control-standards-for-land-development-help-protect-the-natural-environment/).
The MECP, the Town, and the contractors are responsible for ensuring the protection of aquatic life in the West Credit River and should
• Determine the cause of the dewatering bag leak to ensure it does not happen again.
• Use contractors properly trained in erosion and sediment control.
• Have qualified people investigate environmental spills using the correct procedures.
• Exercise caution in making statements that lack a factual basis.
This environmental release was too quickly dismissed and swept under the rug. However, we can all be good stewards of the environment by taking photos and reporting these types of environmental incidents to the Spills Action Centre at 416-325-3000 or Toll-Free at 1-800-268-6060.
Judy Mabee, Chair
Coalition for the West Credit River
