HAMILTON, ONTARIO, June 26, 2013 -- Major improvements to the city of Hamilton, Ontario's wastewater treatment infrastructure, including the naturalization of the Windermere Basin, has significantly improved the water quality of Hamilton Harbor.
The project will enhance the quality of life for Hamilton visitors and residents and contribute to public health improvements and the protection of the environment. The positive results of this work will also help remove the harbor from the Area of Concern list under the Canada/U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
The project consisted of three stage that contributed to the cleanup: First, improvements were made to the Dundas Wastewater Treatment Plant's disinfection system to ensure the removal of chlorine in the plant's effluent. Second, new systems were put in place to control the flow of sanitary sewage and stormwater to reduce untreated discharge into Hamilton Harbor. Finally, the naturalization of the Windermere Basin -- the water body that receives wastewater effluent from the Woodward treatment plant on its way to the harbor -- has transformed an open body of water with limited natural value into a 13 hectare healthy Great Lakes coastal wetland.
The Government of Canada contributed $35 million toward this project through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, and the Government of Ontario contributed $15 million, with the city of Hamilton providing the balance of the funding toward the $80 million project.
"The improved wastewater treatment system and Windermere basin are major achievements in support of the ongoing clean-up of Hamilton Harbor," said the Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of Environment. "Our government is proud to have invested in cleaning efforts that will help the environment, improve quality of life for Hamilton residents and that has created jobs."
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