Comment from a member of the public regarding the Erin WTPP Designation Request Reference No: 81434

Dear Ministers Wilkinson and McKenna,

I am writing to express my strong support of the Coalition for the West Credit River in its request for the Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant to be designated as a Project under subsection 9(a) of the Impact Assessment Act.

The West Credit River has some of the most productive Brook Trout spawning reaches and the longest contiguous habitat in the Credit River watershed. Brook trout are a sentinel species signaling cool pristine waters and natural wild spaces. Brook Trout are a highly sensitive coldwater species and their survival relies on stream temperatures no greater than 19 °C to 20 °C for any sustained period of time.

I am opposed to this Project because Erin Council’s sewage plant will place Brook Trout, Redside Dace and other aquatic species in the West Credit River in peril by destroying their coldwater habitat.

• Brook trout will not survive for long with over 7 million liters of sewage effluent dumped daily into their West Credit River coldwater habitat.
• Brook Trout and Redside Dace are highly sensitive species that will be subject to warmer stream temperatures, chronic exposures to elevated chloride, and possibly unionized ammonia and pharmaceuticals.
• Cumulative effects in the Environmental Study Report did not address any past, present and planned projects in the subwatershed on the environment, but instead only emphasized the benefits of the Project in replacing leaking septic systems in the community.
- The entire Halton Region (which borders Erin) uses advanced wastewater treatment techniques including UV lighting as a final disinfectant. Halton Region chose to use UV as a disinfectant several years ago as it provides protection to its employees and the public from problems that are associated with chlorine and will remove problems associated with chlorine and remove the use of a second step i.e. the use of a neutralizer like sodium thiosulphite.
- The City of Guelph which is also located in Wellington County as is Erin, is undergoing a review of its wastewater treatment and has identified UV as its disinfectant as it will provide protection to aquatic species in the Speed River. The use of UV as the disinfectant is the preferred option.

I urge you to approve the Coalition’s Designation Request and ensure a full federal review under the Impact Assessment Act. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Jerry Smitka
<Email address removed>
<Personal information removed>
Brampton, ON