As a long time resident of…

As a long time resident of this area, I am deeply concerned with the Environmental Impact of this proposed "Biosolids" storage, processing and distribution facility.

We live in an increasingly threatened biodiverse area that needs to be diligently protected going forward, especially given the increased pressure of extreme weather events that we have been experiencing the last several years. For example, the proposed site for this facility received in excess of 6 inches of rain in less than 3 hours on August 23, 2023 resulting in extreme flooding of the surrounding land and roads with all of this runoff entering the Sydenham Watershed. The negative impact of the water run-off from this single weather event alone, was harmful enough with our existing natural topography - imagine the impact if thousands of tonnes of biosolids were added to the situation.

Additionally, the Sydenham Watershed is home to several Species at Risk.

From the 2018 Sydenham Action Plan:

"Some of these species, such as Rayed Bean, occur in only one other location in Canada and persist in only a few locations in North America. The Salamander Mussel is found nowhere else in Canada and is considered globally vulnerable. The Northern Riffleshell population in the Sydenham River is one of only three remaining relatively healthy and reproducing populations globally. Consequently, the Sydenham River is of global significance to the conservation of these species.”

More detailed information on the significance of these Species at Risk in the Sydenham Watershed can be reviewed here: https://www.sydenhamriver.on.ca/sydenham-sar/

Similarly, Phosphorus run-off is an growing issue in SW Ontario:

"In the same way that nutrients help plants in a garden or farm field to grow, they also cause plant growth in the aquatic environment. The difference is that excess nutrients are very unhealthy for the aquatic environment. They can result in filamentous algal blooms, toxic algal blooms, as well as low oxygen levels – all of which degrade the water quality and can impact the safety of water for drinking, recreation, and wildlife.

"The nutrient that is one of the primary drivers for these algal blooms in freshwater environments is phosphorus. Algal blooms are a big issue being faced in the Lake Erie basin, which is why the Canadian and US governments are working together to reduce phosphorus loads to Lake Erie by 40% from 2008 levels."
-Source: Managing Phosphorus in the Sydenham: https://www.sydenhamriver.on.ca/stewardship/phosphorus/

Given the substantial amount of public funds and resources currently going into curtailing and minimizing the effects of phosphorus loading on our Water Shed - it is prudent that we seriously evaluate the detrimental consequences of adding an additional (and I would argue very unnecessary) Large Point-Source phosphorus load to our watershed.

It is becoming increasingly important that -we as stewards of the land- prudently evaluate the environmental costs and the future liabilities of our actions. The science on all of these environmental issues that I have mentioned is well documented and peer reviewed. Let's ALL do our absolute best to protect the Environment that we have been entrusted with.