This consultation was open from:
October 22, 2025
to December 6, 2025
Decision summary
The decision is for a new Environmental Compliance Approval for a wastewater treatment system serving the Pure Springs Research Facility operated by Big Rideau Enterprises Inc. The Pure Springs Research Facility is a proposed aquaculture facility which is located at 181 Enright Road, Shannonville, Ontario, in Tyendinaga Township.
Location details
Site address
181 Enright Road
Tyendinaga,
ON
Canada
Site location map
The location pin reflects the approximate area where environmental activity is taking place.
View this location on a map opens link in a new windowProponent(s)
Big Rideau Enterprises Inc.
180 Kent Street
Ottawa,
ON
K1P 0B6
Canada
Decision details
This decision is for a new Environmental Compliance Approval for a wastewater treatment system serving the Pure Springs Research Facility operated by Big Rideau Enterprises Inc. The Pure Springs Research Facility is a proposed aquaculture facility which is located at 181 Enright Road, Shannonville, Ontario, in Tyendinaga Township.
The approved wastewater treatment system (WWTS) will consist of a 9000 L settling tank, a 4800 L Waterloo WaterNOx-LS tank, and a 100 m2 pond/wetland with a limestone and shale filter. The settling tank will be a 9000 L three-chamber tank that will provide removal of solids prior to wastewater entering the Waterloo WaterNOx-LS tank. The settling tank will provide 20% to 30% Phosphorus reduction, the Waterloo WaterNOx-LS tank is designed to provide 91.7% nitrogen reduction, and the limestone and shale filter will provide 98% phosphorous removal and some additional nitrogen removal. The pond/wetland will be planted with a variety of native plant species selected to provide additional nitrogen and phosphorous removal. Effluent quality and quantity discharged to the environment will be monitored
Effects of consultation
One comment was received from an unnamed member of the public expressing concern about potential impacts on private water wells resulting from groundwater takings associated with the facility.
The comment is not directly related to the issued Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) for sewage works, as concerns regarding groundwater taking were previously considered during the review and issuance of the facility's Permit to Take Water (PTTW) No. P-300-3143110220, issued on April 18, 2024.
This concern was discussed with the applicant, Connor Elliott, who advised that the facility's water supply is sourced from an artesian well. The well flows naturally due to artesian pressure, and no active pumping of groundwater from the aquifer is required. The facility diverts a portion of the naturally flowing water from the artesian well for use in its operations. As such, the proposed operation does not involve the active extraction of groundwater that could be expected to affect neighbouring wells.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
345 College St E
Belleville,
ON
K8N 5S7
Canada
How to Appeal
This instrument decision can be appealed. You have 15 days from August 4, 2026 to begin the appeal process.
Carefully review the information below to learn more about the appeal process.
How to appealClick to Expand Accordion
Start the process to appeal
If you’re an Ontario resident, you can start the process to appeal this instrument decision.
First, you’ll need to seek leave (i.e. get permission) from the relevant appellate body to appeal the decision.
If the appellate body grants leave, the appeal itself will follow.
Seek leave to appeal
To seek leave to appeal, you need to do these three things:
- prepare your application
- provide notice to the minister
- mail your application to three parties
1. Prepare your application
You’ll need to prepare an application. You may wish to include the following things in your application:
- A document that includes:
- your name, phone number, fax number (if any), and/or email address
- the ERO number and ministry reference number (located on this page)
- a statement about whether you are a resident in Ontario
- your interest in the decision, and any facts you want taken into account in deciding whether you have an interest in the decision
- the parts of the instrument that you’re challenging
- whether the decision could result in significant harm to the environment
- the reason(s) why you believe that no reasonable person – having regard to the relevant law and to any government policies developed to guide decisions of that kind – could have made the decision
- the grounds (facts) you’ll be using to appeal
- the outcome you’d like to see
- A copy of the instrument (approval, permit, order) that you you are seeking leave to appeal. You’ll find this in the decision notice on the Environmental Registry
- Copies of all supporting documents, facts and evidence that you’ll be using to appeal
What is considered
The appeal body will consider the following two questions in deciding whether to grant you leave to appeal:
- is there is good reason to believe that no reasonable person, with respect to the relevant law and to any government policies developed to guide decisions of that kind, could have made the decision?
- could the decision you wish to appeal result in significant harm to the environment?
2. Provide your notice
You’ll need to provide notice to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks that you’re seeking leave to appeal.
In your notice, please include a brief description of the:
- decision that you wish to appeal
- grounds for granting leave to appeal
You can provide notice by email at minister.mecp@ontario.ca or by mail at:
College Park 5th Floor, 777 Bay St.
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J3
3. Mail your application
You’ll need to mail your application that you prepared in step #1 to each of these three parties:
- appellate body
- issuing authority (the ministry official who issued the instrument)
- proponent (the company or individual to whom the instrument was issued)
Big Rideau Enterprises Inc.
180 Kent Street
Ottawa,
ON
K1P 0B6
Canada
Registrar, Ontario Land Tribunal
655 Bay Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1E5
(416) 212-6349
(866) 448-2248
OLT.Registrar@ontario.ca
Include the following:
This is not legal advice. Please refer to the Environmental Bill of Rights for exact legal requirements. Consult a lawyer if you need help with the appeal process.
Connect with us
Contact
Client Services and Permissions Branch
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 2
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
The proposal is for a new Environmental Compliance Approval for a wastewater treatment system serving the Pure Springs Research Facility operated by Big Rideau Enterprises Inc. The Pure Springs Research Facility is a proposed aquaculture facility which is located at 181 Enright Road, Shannonville, Ontario, in Tyendinaga Township.
The proposed wastewater treatment system (WWTS) will consist of a 9000-litres settling tank, a 4800-litres Waterloo WaterNOx-LS tank, and a 100 square metres pond/wetland with a limestone and shale filter. The settling tank will be a 9000-litre three-chamber tank that will provide removal of solids prior to wastewater entering the Waterloo WaterNOx-LS tank. The settling tank will provide 20% to 30% Phosphorus reduction, the Waterloo WaterNOx-LS tank is designed to provide 91.7% nitrogen reduction, and the limestone and shale filter will provide 98% phosphorous removal and some additional nitrogen removal. The pond/wetland will be planted with a variety of native plant species selected to provide additional nitrogen and phosphorous removal.
The ministry may require monitoring of the wastewater effluent discharge leaving the site.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 2
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from October 22, 2025
to December 6, 2025
Connect with us
Contact
Client Services and Permissions Branch
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 2
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
1By email
0By mail
0