Lake Erie North Shore Watershed Plan - Niagara Peninsula ...

LAKE ERIE NORTH SHORE WATERSHED PLAN
ground in the drainage field. Problems with septic tanks often stem from improper use
and maintenance. Faulty septic systems can create serious local contamination
problems with the potential to contaminate groundwater wells (Pollution Probe 2004).
Faulty or improperly maintained septic systems have been reported as a concern by
participants of a public workshop in November 2008. In addition, the Groundwater Study
(WHI 2005) in consultation with the Region of Niagara Health Department identified
areas where septic systems have been reported to cause problems with the quality of
groundwater (Figure 14). In the Lake Erie North Shore Watershed, septic system „hot
spots‟ include the Onondaga Hydrogeologically Sensitive Area, where the overburden
overlying the bedrock is too thin to sufficiently treat the septic tank effluent (WHI 2005). It
is evident that aging and faulty septic systems contribute to poor water quality by
discharging partly or untreated sewage effluent into subsurface and surface drainage
pathways (NPCA 2010).
Wainfleet
Like much of the area along the Lake Erie shoreline, municipal water and wastewater
infrastructure does not exist in the Township of Wainfleet. Currently, most of Wainfleet is
serviced by on-site water wells, aside from the Long Beach area which utilizes a
communal water supply, and sewage disposal for the Town of Wainfleet is serviced by
individual on-site septic systems (MacViro Consultants 2002).
Since April 10 2006, the area of Wainfleet south of the former rail line to Lake Erie has
been under a Boil Water Advisory after studies conducted by Niagara Region‟s Public
Health and Public Works departments and Ministry of the Environment identified a
significant health concern as a result of the groundwater contamination: “Environmental
and potential health problems associated with the failure and malfunctioning of the
existing private septic tank systems in the Lakeshore Communities in some cases
include raw sewage in roadside ditches, odours associated with these sewage
discharges and on-site ponding from tile field breakouts” (Earth Tech 2005a).
In an effort to address the issue, a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) was initiated
by the Township of Wainfleet and Region of Niagara. The Class EA planning process
includes public and review agency consultation, an evaluation of alternatives,
assessment of the impacts of proposed improvements, and mitigation measures
identified.
As a result of the Environmental Assessment, the preferred alternative for providing the
Wainfleet area with a potable water source is to establish a network of piping and use
the Water Treatment Plant in Port Colborne as a water source. The preferred option in
terms of wastewater servicing is the establishment of gravity sewer systems with
pumping stations. The collected sewage flows would be discharged to the trunk sewer
system in Port Colborne and treatment would occur at the Seaway Waste Water
Treatment Plant (Earth Tech 2005b)
The Minister of the Environment endorsed the preferred alternative to build municipal
water and wastewater central systems, and cited a number of conditions that must be
met prior to construction (MOE 2006c). At the request of the Township of Wainfleet,
Region of Niagara is acting on behalf of the municipality as project manager for the
Lakeshore Water and Wastewater servicing project. Numerous studies are currently
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