New report on Chedoke Creek proposes at least $150M to improve water quality into 2035

A new report recommends the city spend more than $150million over 14 years to make up for the24 billion litres of sewage and stormwaterthat spilled into Chedoke Creek between 2014 and 2018.

The report fromGM Blueplan Engineering, obtained by CBC News, is set to appear at a general issues committee meeting on Monday.

It lists five key causes to the "significant impacts" at the creek, including:

• Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) flowingdirectly into the water.
• Wash-off and potential spills from Highway 403 and the railway and rail yard.
• Potential leachatecontamination from landfill.
• TheUrban Stormwater System consisting of largely untreated stormwater runoff.

"While these challenges are not uncommon to many legacy systems across Ontario and North America, the legacy water quality issues within Chedoke Creek are of additional interest due to the creek's location and function within the broader Cootes Paradise and Hamilton Harbour system," the report says, noting the majority of the impact comes fromCSOs and stormwaterrunoff.

CBC News is seeking comment from the city.

In January 2014, a bypass gate at the city's combined sewer overflow (CSO) tank at Main and King streets was left partially open. Over four years, 24 billion litres enteredChedoke Creek, whichflows into Cootes Paradise and into Hamilton Harbour.

Following a ministry investigation into the leak, the province charged the city.

A court summonsdated Dec. 8, 2020, outlines the charges,which are both linked to causing or permitting raw sewage to be discharged.

The province asked the city to dredge the creek, but the city said it wouldn't be able to meet the province's deadline.

The report recommends studies, projects, programs and maintenancethat can be done within the next two years, the next five years and beyond.

Among the dozens of recommendations, GM Blueplan Engineering suggestsforming Chedoke Creek Advisory Committee,constructing areas of wetland, separating sewers like the one inAinslieWoodfrom entering the Royal CSO, and managing runoff from highways and golf courses.

The report mentions some limitations, including a five-month window and using best available information at the time.

"No new investigations were completed in support of this study," the report said. "The completion of additional investigations and/or studies will be needed to address existing data/information gaps and to confirm the scope of major project and/or program recommendations."