To Whom It May Concern: RE:…

To Whom It May Concern:

RE: ERO # 019-6708
Ministry Reference # 5619-CN5RQZ

I am writing this letter regarding my concerns for ERO # 019-6708 wherein the applicant has applied to dispose of hauled sewage at a country property.

I am very concerned about this proposal given the proximity of this property to many residential dwellings, agricultural crops and livestock pastures. Furthermore, this property has two creeks running through it. The potential for ground water contamination is obviously significant and the ramifications and impact on human and animal health would be immense.

There are also concerns from a public health perspective. Specifically, there is the possibility of transmission of bacteria, viruses and parasites from the human waste that they will be disposing of on this property. Not only is there the potential for contamination of water, but also there may be transmission of infectious pathogens through air, contamination of food and spread of infectious pathogens by animal transfer. This poses a significant risk to human and animal health.

There is a worrisome lack of evidence regarding the safety of this practice and it astounds me that an application like this would even be considered without robust safety data. In addition, there seems to be inadequate mechanisms in place for overseeing and monitoring the implementation and on-going operations of this practice.

There is a reason that sewage treatment plants were put into place in the 1800s. We are a developed country and there is no place for human sewage being dumped in a field in close proximity to other inhabited properties. It is unreasonable to expect rural residents to tolerate exposure to these infectious pathogens in land, air and water in the place where they live. Please do not approve this application to dump human sewage where we live and work.