ROPEC releases too much chlorine

A report on Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) of the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre (ROPEC) was tabled at the city’s the planning and environment committee late last month and carried by council on July 8, noting that “with very few exceptions, the quality of river water is generally within guidelines.”

Since 1998, city staff have conducted a number of field and laboratory studies to determine the impacts of ROPEC effluent on the Ottawa River, under criteria established by Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment. EEM, according to the report, is an integrated approach that aims to seek out any changes or impacts in the selected environment.

Using samples of effluent taken at “end of pipe” – before discharge from ROPEC enters the Ottawa River – staff examined whether any “parameters of concern” related to pollution prevention exist, the report recounts. Out of 58 parameters, four “regularly exceed guidelines,” it explains, including chlorine, un-ionized ammonia and phosphorous.

A four-day testing period detailed in the report also looked at the mortality of fish that came into contact with ROPEC effluent, citing test results as inconclusive and pointing to further testing scheduled to take place throughout the remainder of the summer.

Otherwise, “this first step in the EEM process yielded extremely positive results” in relation to the fish population, the report said. Sensitive species of benthic invertebrates – animals without spines that inhabit the bottoms of aquatic systems – were found to be negatively impacted within a 1.8-kilometre radius of ROPEC’s discharge, however, it added, pointing to fingernail clams as one species that may have been affected.

Though the report doesn’t solve all the problems connected to effluent flowing into the Ottawa River, “it is actively looking at getting control of things,” says Orléans Coun. Bob Monette. “It’s a good step in the right direction. I was pleased with what (staff) brought back. It looked at the overall what had to be done and what can be done in a realistic timeframe.”

A total overhaul of all the issues facing Ottawa’s wastewater system would cost an estimated $1 billion, he continues, a charge the city can’t currently shoulder. “That will not be realistic for today,” Monette adds, explaining that instead other measures “will help with the discharge and help with keeping the water clean.”

What’s key is looking at the situation from a long-term perspective, he suggests, and recognizing that a clean waterway is also vitally important for future generations. “We have to find a happy medium,” he says. “We’ve come a long way.”

The major overflow of 2007 – and its resulting cover-up scandal, which saw provincial fines laid and several city staffers reprimanded or fired – “will not ever occur again, I’m quite confident to say,” Monette continues.

Real-time monitoring of overflow and environmental impacts has improved to such a degree that “some residents are saying, ‘You’re giving us too much information,’” he recounts. “It’s important to know the day-to-day aspects. ROPEC is doing a lot better in making everything public. That’s one thing we’ve had come out of this – they’re very quick to report any findings.”

In the future, however, “all levels of government have to go even further with funding. This is the first step – one of the major steps – but we can’t stop here,” Monette says. “We will need more funding down the road.”