Why will the current Sewer Separation Strategy be reviewed?
A long-term review of the program is being recommended to ensure this is the best way to spend City dollars to protect the Ottawa River. Sewer separation creates much more frequent and voluminous storm water discharges into the river, which would otherwise go to the Pickard Centre for full treatment and seasonal disinfection. In addition to bacteria, storm water may contain other matter harmful to the environment, such as metals. Although continued sewer separation reduces the number of (low volume) combined sewer overflow events, it does not dramatically decrease the overall volume of CSO discharged discharged because the areas that remain to be separated contribute less than 5 per cent of the current total volume. It also comes at a significant cost.
