Alex Rheault is seeking leave to appeal this decision. For additional details, see Environmental Review Tribunal Case No.: 20-019

This notice is given by the applicant in accordance with section 47 of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993. The notice was prepared by the applicant and represents its position. It does not represent or reflect the views of the Government of Ontario, nor does the Government of Ontario make any representations about the accuracy of the content of this notice.

Sewage treatment plants are heavily regulated precisely because their failure to perform can cause immediate and significant environmental harm.

The risk of harm is heightened in the case of the Minaki treatment plant, where effluent from the plant flows out a short pipe directly into the Winnipeg River, and where the plant is in unorganized territory, with no municipal oversight of plant operation or backup after plant failure. 

The refusal of the Ministry to follow its own rules and require updated water quality baseline studies for the Winnipeg River leaves the risk that the plant's treatment limits are inconsistent with the River's current condition, and that stricter limits and additional treatment are needed to avoid unacceptable degradation of water quality.

Furthermore, tertiary sewage filtration techniques are readily available and typically used which, if added to the Minaki plant, would further improve effluent quality in any event. 

The refusal of the Ministry to require additional filtration before discharge of effluent directly into the Winnipeg River results in a level of contamination of the River that could easily be avoided and that immediately and certainly worsens River water quality.

Alex Rheault is seeking leave to appeal this decision. For additional details, see Environmental Review Tribunal Case No.: 20-019

This notice is given by the applicant in accordance with section 47 of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993. The notice was prepared by the applicant and represents its position. It does not represent or reflect the views of the Government of Ontario, nor does the Government of Ontario make any representations about the accuracy of the content of this notice.

Sewage treatment plants are heavily regulated precisely because their failure to perform can cause immediate and significant environmental harm.

The risk of harm is heightened in the case of the Minaki treatment plant, where effluent from the plant flows out a short pipe directly into the Winnipeg River, and where the plant is in unorganized territory, with no municipal oversight of plant operation or backup after plant failure.

The refusal of the Ministry to follow its own rules and require updated water quality baseline studies for the Winnipeg River leaves the risk that the plant's treatment limits are inconsistent with the River's current condition, and that stricter limits and additional treatment are needed to avoid unacceptable degradation of water quality.

Furthermore, tertiary sewage filtration techniques are readily available and typically used which, if added to the Minaki plant, would further improve effluent quality in any event.

The refusal of the Ministry to require additional filtration before discharge of effluent directly into the Winnipeg River results in a level of contamination of the River that could easily be avoided and that immediately and certainly worsens River water quality.