Discharging raw sewage into…

Discharging raw sewage into Lake Ontario near Ontario Place's West Channel is a significant environmental and public health concern.

Firstly, raw sewage contains harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can pose serious health risks to people who come into contact with the water, including swimmers and recreational users. Additionally, sewage introduces excessive nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus into the water, which can trigger algal blooms. These blooms deplete oxygen levels, harming aquatic ecosystems and endangering fish and other marine life.

Lake Ontario is a vital source of drinking water for millions of people. Contaminating it with untreated waste risks polluting the water supply, making treatment more costly and complex. The discharge also damages the lake's biodiversity, disrupting the balance of aquatic habitats and threatening species that rely on clean water.

Finally, such pollution harms Toronto's image as a sustainable, waterfront city. The West Channel near Ontario Place is a popular area for recreation, tourism, and cultural activities. Polluting it undermines efforts to maintain the area as an inviting space for residents and visitors.

Instead of discharging untreated waste, investing in wastewater treatment and sustainable infrastructure is essential to protect the lake, its ecosystems, and public health.

At a time when we have invested billions of dollars into upgrading our water treatment infrastructure to lesson the damage we do to Lake Ontario, this is astonishingly counterintuitive.