Raise the Hammer

Jason, it is a sewage treatment plant not a water pumping station.

On another note, to blame suburban sprawl for wastewater treatment is silly. Whether you have a residential unit in Downtown Hamilton or in the suburbs, one still has the same effect on the loading of the treatment plant. A residential, commercial or industrial building no matter where it is located generates so many cubic metres of wastewater per day.

Stormwater in suburban areas does not go to the treatment plant. It goes to stormwater management ponds via storm sewers where the sediment settles and the water is then released back to nature via streams or ground water infiltration to recharge groudwater sources. Or better yet, where I live in the evil suburbs we have swales (ditches) where stormwater accumulates and infiltrates the ground. We don't have storm sewers, just small sanitary sewers for what goes down the drains in the house. The only way in which stormwater in my neighbourhood would enter the sanitary sewer system would be through inflow/infiltration due pipe conditions.

The problem with the old areas in Hamilton is that the system is designed with what is known as combined sewers in which wastewater and stormwater are collected and conveyed to the treatment plant. So when we have major storm events this is what causes the flooding. The City has spent millions of dollars constructiong Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) holding tanks, the most recent examples are across the 403 from Chedoke Golf course and by Princess Point. If these tanks fill during a storm event and the treatment plant exceeds capacity then untreated stormwater and wastewater is discharged directly into the lake unfortunately.

You will note on your Horizon Utility bill that for every cubic metre you use you are charged the same amount on the wastewater side.

Therefore, you are mistaken. If there is not capacity at the treatment plant for 200 residential suburban units then there is not capacity at the plant for 200 residential units downtown.

This puts the City in a very interesting position. The City has funding programs to convert office space to residential units. The wastewater generated by residential units is much higher than that of an office as one does not take showers, wash dishes and clothes at the office (at least not at my office).

Therefore, if what you say is correct, then all development no matter what the use or where it is located in the City would grind to a halt as the capacity at the end of the pipe (the treatment plant) is not available.

I'm sure you'll spin these statements to suit your own misinformed beliefs. Which does not bother me as I know I am correct and have the education (bachelors and masters degrees) and over 16 years of working experience to back it.