‘It can be dangerous’: Brock calls out York sewage plant plan

Outflow from plant will go into river ending in Lake Simcoe

Mykawartha.com
Jan. 25, 2021
Moya Dillon

The planned Upper York Sewage Solution may serve York Region municipalities, but it could still bring impacts to Brock.

At a meeting on Jan. 11, Brock councillors expressed concern with the proposed sewer plant and water reclamation plant, which will reportedly handle up to 47 million litres per day and allow for population growth of nearly 150,000 people across Newmarket, Aurora and East Gwillimbury. Water from the plant will flow into the Holland River, which feeds Lake Simcoe.

“It was something I was leery of when it was first proposed -- to put that amount of product into Lake Simcoe concerned me,” said Deputy Mayor Ted Smith, noting his concerns were put to rest once he found out more about the facility.

“I have been reassured several times by both Region of Durham staff and York Region staff that this will replace old technology and actually clean up six to seven kilometres of the Holland River by reducing significantly phosphorus loading and improving the water quality. Essentially the water coming out of the plant will be cleaner than the average water quality in Lake Simcoe.”

Other councillors still had concerns, with Coun. Walter Schummer pointing out that heavy rain could create significant environmental impacts.

“If we get a heavy rainy season, or any significant rainfall in a very short period of time, it can be dangerous because any treatment facility has to have any surplus flow untreated directly into the lake, and on Lake Simcoe we know where that will go,” he said, noting currents would carry any refuse to the Beaverton shoreline and surrounding communities. “It just seems to be our experience that anything that can happen on that lake seems to happen, and then of course it flows over to us.”

Other councillors agreed that the plan was concerning, with Beaverton Coun. Mike Jubb noting 47 million litres of water a day is a significant amount to be flowing into the Lake Simcoe watershed.

“It’s something to think about,” he said.

Councillors voted to have staff request a detailed presentation on the project from either Durham or York Region staff to ensure councillors understand all the risks.