South Bruce Peninsular - Water - Comments

Bad Water, Good Politics

garym — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:19:10 -0400

Some further update news on this saga, Mayor Gilbert is pushing the feds for answers, and let this be a lesson in karmic law for those planning sneaky moves: You just never know WHO is going to someday end up in a position of power.

garym: ict evangelist - musician - whatever

a ratepayers point of view

bub — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:11:00 -0400

and from that very same paper a ratepayer posts this:

Editor:

First off we want to congratulate Phil McNichol on his recent column depicting an accurate picture of the challenging politics of South Bruce Peninsula.

It is unfortunate that Phil is now signing off on our council meetings. His perception is accurate. Notwithstanding that "budget" is a factor for local and regional newspapers, the truth is that apathy has settled into the ranks of ratepayers in this community. Some of you just don't seem to care how your tax dollars are spent.

The lack of accountability by staff to council started with our previous mayor, who seemed to be successful in directing a "yes" council, some of whom are still with us.

This fact alone should provide a wake-up call for all taxpayers. We can make a difference. We need to pay attention. We need to tune into council meetings. We don't think it's too much to ask. Think of it this way. Previous councils allowed approximately half a million dollars to be spent on the pipeline issue alone - for which there was no benefit . . . NADA!

Phil alluded to the pipeline issue, saying the public was fully engaged in dealing with this and some other controversial issues. I have a question. If you taxpayers were fully engaged, why would you have allowed the council to sign such a one-sided contract permitting Peter Budd and his company to receive payments without sufficient performance?

We should all of us be concerned about the whole municipality and not just our own little corner. South Bruce Peninsula has a varied combination of communities that are the envy of other municipalities. Let's follow Phil's suggestion and try to get council on track for productivity for all of South Bruce Peninsula.

Some of you may not be aware of how the voting has gone down. The negative faction on this council has shown its true colours by supporting a vote for a compliance audit of the mayor's campaign expenses but, at the same time, not supporting a vote to follow up on an alleged trust issue relating to Coun. Kerr.

I dare not take the time to list all of the occasions when they have "gone after the mayor." I would not want to burden you with that much research! I would be happy, however, to share all of those issues with you. Just send me an e-mail.

How sad that since November 2006 this group has put their own agenda ahead of the taxpayers of this municipality, the very people who pay their wage. We are convinced that at least some councillors don't process issues brought before them but vote on the basis of their own non-productive political agenda.

This group of councillors seems to have a double standard. Their political agenda would seem to have little to do with the significance of the issues. This kind of voting is attributable to the same group of council that walked out of a duly called meeting without permission from the chairperson in order to obviate a voting quorum.
We have watched with interest at both committee meetings and council meetings and draw conclusions from the emotional outbursts, the body language and showboating that does not appear in the somewhat bias report in the local paper - a report which sometimes ventures opinion ahead of fact."

from S-T letters to the editor

**********************************************************
"How does one "Seem to think"? Either you did or you didn't! "
-ZenGary

Village People

vinylgirl — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:11:54 -0400

Here we go again with the water and sewer stuff and lack there of. I read that whiny letter, and gave it a thumbs down.

Our village has water and sewer. Now, after six years of living here, we are having to invest in a water softener and a little device (media guard) that takes the chlorine and other stuff out of the water so we can actually have a bath or a shower and not get rashes and eczema. To top it all off, my hair looks like it has been struck by lightning unless I put copious amounts of defrizzer in it. Thank goodness my husband doesn't have to worry about his doo because he has just shaved it all off, and he is going bald. . .come to think of it, the baldness started when we moved here. I wonder if there could be a positive correlation between slamming a water system with chlorine and follicle distress?

Our hard water is up in the 25 grain area. Then coupled with the excessive chlorine, you have to wonder why the hell should I have to pay for this crap? ( I was even thinking at one point of tapping in to the ground water, just for lack of the chlorinated bliss. I have on occassion saved rain water for hair).

They slam dunk the chlorine and then this other chemical so pipes don't corrode. We pay for this wonderful mixture, yet we have been buying at the very least 570.00 per year of bottled water to drink. We are also paying 50.00 per month or so for water and sewage. (Ya, I know there are controversies over the bottled water, but at least it does not taste putrid).

It's not just us either, old Jim Bob Something-Or-Other started getting welts and stuff up his arms and torso with the amount of chlorine that is put in the system. There are many stories around here about reactions to the water system.

I am coming up to Sauble this weekend, at the very least to give my follicles a rest from all the crap they stick in our water.

Really, you people should consider yourselves lucky. I know my Units are very proud of their water, and I can understand why, it hasn't been chemically blasted with stuff that is a known carcinogen and known to cause reactions.

If people are so concerned about the quality of water, invest in your own personal systems. It's cheaper, and you know what is going on with it and you control it, not big brother.

People normally move away from the city to get away from the city. Then they arrive and want the "bonuses" of city living in rural communities. I just don't get it.

the bite marks on my butt!

wayne tanner — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:19:26 -0400

Here is is what I cannot figure out and it irks me to no end that I cannot, even in a non sarcastic way, relay to the world that there is something really wrong here.
All of of us moved here from somewhere, for whatever reason.
I moved here from a place that had a lower tax rate per than what I am paying now. Fine...
For the last gawd knows how many years tax base in the ( whatever) of Sauble Beach has been the envy of all the municipalities around it. All those cottages and businesses, year after year paying into the coffers.
YET
Other municipalities have had less of a tax base and over the years have biult and maintained an infrastructure (roads sewers garbage bridges)
Yet, and the old horse is being whippeed again, My kids don't even have a side walk to walk on to avoid getting hit by the snowplough which comes around once every 24 hours.
I can't wrap the brain around this. for a hundred years the infrastrcture in "Amabel" has not changed. The taxes are higher than other communities which have over a hundred years have biult and maintained an infrastructure. And continue to try and maintain the services to which it residents are accustomed

So here we are here, there has never been any services,despite higher revenues.
As compared to our nieghbours with less people, smaller tax base, and yet they have biult, maintained and expanded.
If money has been spent on something here over the years, let me know where I am wrong with my reasoning.
If someone with more resources to it could find out how much government money goes into supplying service to one of those 200 acres developments which pop up overnight south of here, and shelburne is the closest example, let me know if 80 million covers the bill.

Interesting?

garym — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:19:00 -0400

Waugh? Interesting? Well, interesting in that it is long on complaints, but very short on solutions, and that he'd live so long with such a strategy, well, yes, that is interesting.

But what exactly is he saying? He's saying, "forget it, it won't happen" and he's implying that this has ruined his day, but I'll tell you, if he were to come up with a brilliant plan whereby this little village of 2000 could suddenly windfall eighty million dollars short of housing an evil scientist's lair, hey, then let's get some conversation happening! But no, he's not. He jus' in a bad widdle mood 'cause his mommy won' div 'im a new swew-a fo' free po' chil', and I really don't find that very interesting at all, but that's just me, and everyone knows that I'm a few clicks off of being a Tara-ist myself ;)

We already have solutions on the table, yet it amazes me, it truly astounds me really, but nobody wants to even talk about them, not here, not in the Sun-Times, not on the CFOS, nowhere. Sewer sewer sewer goes the mantra, one-track like the monotone single-track single-basket thinking which that two-centuries-old technology represents.

Waugh needs to wake up. We're not the only community on this planet with water issues and short on cash, we're not even the only community on this planet with imagined water issues, so why aren't we taking that as our starting point and instead of forever wailing at the government wall for handouts and wringing our hands for cavalry rescues? Why don't we just step up to the plate and do something about it?

More than editorial ink, that is.

For example, what truly was so blasphemously evil about my suggestion to host a world-summit conference on the issues of small-scale waste-water safety technologies? I've seen world-class Linux-fests put on for less than $30,000, to flog another dead horse, so where is the impetus and where is the initiative in those agitprop words of Waugh's to actually do something about his precious predicament?

why, no where, mon frèrè, nowhere like the hair on Fred Astaire.

There, I feel better now ;)

garym: ict evangelist - musician - whatever

About The Collection System and Summary

Dodge — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:02:46 -0500

The Collection System

The system is called a small bore sewer collection system. There will be 6,700 meters of collection pipe some of it 150 mm (6 inch) and some 200 mm (8 inch).

There will be 356 tanks located one on each property serviced. An extra 10 % of that number (37 tanks) can be added before the system reaches capacity limits. A cost of $3,500 is estimated for each tank and is included in the total system cost.

The tanks function in a way that is familiar to septic tank owners except that there is no field bed. There is a chamber where the level of clarified waste from the home builds up over time. At some given level a pump in the tank is activated and pumps wastewater into the sewage collection system. The pump shuts off when the level in the tank is pumped down a preset number of inches. In this way some period of time may elapse in intervals when the tank is not contributing to the collection system. During the bidding process some variations on this theme may emerge.

These tanks will accumulate solid material at the bottom and require pumping every ten years. In order to evenly distribute the pumpings the Town will most likely start the rotation sooner than ten years.

These tanks will not be located on road allowance they will be on private property. They will likely be as close as possible to the collection system line which services both sides of the street.

Summary.

These are my opinions not contents of the addendum.
The proposed system will be sufficient to do its job but will quickly reach capacity. It is a protection system rather than a growth and development system. The design keeps the costs affordable for individual property owners.

Even though there is a radical change in the scope of this system since the original Addendum No 2 was presented there has been no public meeting to present it. At some point this will have to be done probably in the summer and DCA residents should have some way of deciding if they want to go ahead with this. Whether or not this project is ever built the groundwater still has fall back protection in the septic inspection program.

Treated effluent is still to be discharged directly to the Sauble River. No recent flow rate data have been given for Sauble Falls and it could be less than the 1990 figures. We don’t know what it is. The addendum has not given us any information about dilution on low flow days when the plant is operating at capacity. Therefore we don’t know if the environment is being protected and that constitutes grounds to ask for more data and more information before this proceeds.

The possibility of subsurface ground discharge during the summer season only has not been given enough weight in the discussion leading to a preferred solution of direct discharge to the river.

This system is a template for increasing the size of the collection area and thus the amount of treated effluent discharged. It is a given that there will be pressure to do that. Again this depends on the capacity of the river to accept effluent. If a system could be chosen which did not permit river discharge it would be a better solution for the community. This much is also stated in Addendum No 2 – revised.

It is likely that we will have to go through a federal EA for this project so we need to get these issues settled now.

my kingdom

wayne tanner — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:09:47 -0500

If we got all these jobs done on this sewer and water thing , Walmart would be here in a flash and then thousands of people will come and I will woo them with my charm and they will love me, and then they will make me their leader, and I will rule all that I see with an iron fist appointing my minions and entourage regardless of thier ability to function, as long as they are loyal and do my bidding and I will cast out those who dare question me HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I will be a master of all I see HAHAHAHAHAHa.(insert darth vader heavy breathing sound byte)
DArn I forgot about those pictures from that college party 25 years ago that suddenly surfaced , oh well my political career was short lived.....

Reasons For Downsizing

Dodge — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:50:00 -0500

The Reasons For Downsizing The Project.

There were some problems with the original project that resulted in the failure to proceed after the original Addendum No.2 Sheer size had resulted in a failure to receive funding interest from governments with large numbers of allocation requests. There was always some discussion about the need for this project outside of the DCA and whether the original EA failed to demonstrate that there was a problem. This lead to the use of ditchwater samples in the first No 2 addendum which rather than prove a problem existed became a basis for testing the validity of conclusions drawn in the addendum.

The biggest problem with the addendum No 2 was the then recommended design for the wastewater treatment plant. It allowed for direct discharge of treated wastewater into the Sauble River. The Sauble River is a valuable resource and it was felt that this project could potentially damage the ecosystem through phosphorous loading and temperature changes. Data showed Sauble Falls daily flow rates less than 1 cu m/sec at lowest natural flow before 1990 and no data are available for more recent flow rates. The idea of one outlet for collected and treated wastewater from all of Sauble and Hepworth plus future contributions from growth and development was not proven to have an advantage over widely distributed septic systems when considering environmental impact. This excludes an area such as the Sauble DCA which has been subjected to intensification in years past.

What Was Needed

A project design was needed that would be small enough to attract funding, that would be quickly ready for construction, that addressed the problems outlined in the problem statements in Addendum 2 – revised and that was sized to meet this requirement with design costs as low as possible.

The Design Area

The area to be serviced run east from Lakeshore to the D Line. It runs north and south variously up to three blocks. It is best to download the map in pdf format from the Town website rather than describe it.

Municipal Water
An amount of 105 gallons per minute is required from new wells to supply a parallel system and no new source exists at present. Water servicing was given a second priority because of time constraints, additional expense and well development needs. It is however, an option and a third addendum would be required to develop a source.

Wastewater
A sewer system servicing the DCA is recommended. Hepworth and the greater Sauble area would remain on private systems.

The system is not expandable beyond a 10% allowance and is designed to service existing properties. The size is designed to keep the outlet volume from the wastewater plant as low as possible. Total sewage design inflow is 279 cu m/day.

The treatment plant will discharge directly to the Sauble River but with a flow of 10% of the old larger design which serviced the whole Sauble and Hepworth area.

The sewage collection system consists of a small bore polyethylene pipe collection system and individual clarifier tanks located on each property.

Based on servicing 356 equivalent housing units the cost per property unit is estimated at $25,182. Traditional funding grants pay 2/3 of that amount if they are provided. Final connection costs are additional.

Water servicing costs are estimated at $18,000 per unit if it was to be provided.

c'mon dodge

mxyzptlk — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:02:00 -0500

hey Dodge, great job so far, time is running out, and I am eager for your conclusion.
kltpzyxm

Addendum 2 Revised - I will post on it

Dodge — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:18:30 -0500

I have gone over the document once and I will try an do a summary here of what is in it and what it suggests as a base project for Sauble Beach that will, by removing the responsibility of septic disposal on small lots, hopefully, protect the ground aquifer in the area close to and on the main street. I want to read through it again first.

The group of citizens who own property in this area are the ones who should know the whole story and deserve to be fully informed.

Septic Solutions

mxyzptlk — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:12:00 -0500

Hi Gary, you should check out Waterloo Biofilter Inc.

I wonder why the town hasn't considered alternative, environmentally friendly solutions to the 'supposed' sewer problems at the beach.

By the way, were you aware of the Notice of Filing of Addendum No. 2 - Revised Class Environmental Assessment Water & Sewage Works Study The Town of South Bruce Peninsula that was issued on Dec 24, 2007 and published in the Sun Times on Jan 2, 2008? Citizens have only a couple of weeks left to comment, or as stated in the notice in the paper

"If no request is received by January 31, 2008, the Town intends to proceed with construction, if funds permit, as outlined in the Addendum"

My wife was reading your "one bag of garbage" blog in which you indicate you are always one of the last to know these sorts of things so thought I would bring this to your attention. I am surprised I have not seen any blog posts on this addendum revision; maybe council will be able to sneak this through ... the timing of the notice and publishing date are suspect in my opinion. The addendum can be found with some effort on the Town's web site; I think there is also a copy at the Sauble Library.

Effective Microorganisms for Septics?

garym — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:37:00 -0500

I was reading about a Costa Rican resort's success with Effective Microorganism strategies and I just wondered, are there any local septic service companies applying the same approach here in the Northlands?

The concept of 'effective microorganisms' was developed by Japanese agronomist Teruo Higa, from the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa who reported in the 1970s that a combination of approximately 80 different microorganisms is capable to positively influence decomposing organic matter such that it reverts into a 'life promoting' process. Higa invokes a 'dominance principle' to explain the effects of his 'effective microorganisms'. He claims that there exist three groups of microorganisms: 'positive microorganims' (regeneration), 'negative microorganisms' (decomposition, degeneration), 'opportunist microorganisms'. In every medium (soil, water, air, the human intestine), the ratio of 'positive' and 'negative' microorganisms is critical, since the opportunist microorganisms follow the trend to regeneration or degeneration. Therefore, Higa believes that it is possible to positively influence the given media by supplementing positive microorganisms.
[ Effective Microorganisms ]

A detailed summary of EM methods as applied to sustainable agriculture can be found at the emerging (and largely unfinished) EM-Info Website.

garym: ict evangelist - musician - whatever

We can't even agree

Dan O. — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:13:33 -0400

Second time around for thsi reply:

Skyhawk; What you say is true but if the residents of a small town like SBP can't even agree about water how can the international community? It's sad but it all comes down to use it or lose it. Those that want to make money press for development. The general population can try to resist but it becomes a never ending story.

The americans drain the upper great lakes and try to blame global warming. Too bad they didn't agree that global warming is real and wouldn't agree to reducing it. Without the diversions that they're making the Missisippi would become a mud hole.

It sounds great to say that we should share this great natural resource but in reality the US will take what they want. Multinationals will obtain the rights to making shipments and only the wealthy that can afford to pay will get the water.

Our pristine northern lakes are the sewage disposal areas of the sky. Do a scan on PCBs and Inuit. They didn't produce the chemicals, they just have to eat them.

At this time in Canada water has no value. The plastic drinking bottles cost more than the contents in them. By shipping water this way we fill dumps with waste, burn large amounts of oil for transportation and only supply a select few. The same was true of trees to the original settlers, until they learned the value of keeping a woodlot.

The best we can do is protect what we have. Don't pollute, minimize use and treat the resource so your greatgrandchildren will be able to enjoy it in this area the way you do.

Dan O.

Uranium

Dan O. — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:20:47 -0400

Gary; I believe that this is what you asked about. It sounds like just exploration at this point.

http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/728

http://www.nowpublic.com/censored-algonquin-resisting-uranium-mining-brace-police-raid

http://www.minesandcommunities.org/Action/press1592.htm

Dan O.

The Water Speculators

garym — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 17:19:16 -0400

At our weekend deepwoods campsite a friend of mine had an interesting observation I throw out for the general consideration: In all the Ontario communities still with quality watersheds, we are seeing a rapid pace of development aimed specifically to sell off all nearby lots to (relatively) rich city buyers, primarily retiring Boomers, and thereby not only endangering all these water systems, but handing the control of them over to developers who, being off-site faceless corporations, have no real vested interest in the local ecology.

First they came for Muskoka, and I said nothing, because I am not a Muskokan.
Then they came for Wasaga, and I said nothing, because I am not a Wasagan.
Then they came for Haliburton and I said nothing again.
Then they came for Sauble, and I said nothing because I realized that all along I had really been one of them by my silence.

I don't know if this is related, but at the same campfire I was told of large tracts of land out beyond Perth Ontario that are being systematically scraped clean of the top 25 feet of top-soil in an earnest effort to find all that fresh Uranium that we'll need for all that swell new nuclear power. Anyone know anything about that?

garym: ict evangelist - musician - whatever