Where we have been and a direction for the future

WHERE WE HAVE BEEN
and a
DIRECTION FOR THE
FUTURE
Town of South Bruce Peninsula

Water and Sewer Meeting
January 30, 2007
Regional Sewer and Water
History and Review of
Previous Studies
Water and sewer has
been a topic of interest
for over 35 years in
Sauble Beach and more
recently, in the outlying
areas including Hepworth
Ground and Surface Water Quality
Study along the Bruce County
Shoreline (Ontario Water Resources
Commission, 1969)

The report issued the following recommendation
regarding water supply and sewage treatment services
for the Sauble Beach area: "Existing and future
development in the urban areas; i.e. Sauble Beach,
should be provided with communal water and sewage
treatment facilities. Treated Lake Huron water should be
used as the source of water supply."

Reference: Environmental Study Report ­
March 2001
Sauble Beach Area Conceptual Brief ­
Proposed Provincial Sanitary Sewage
Treatment and Collector Facilities ­
Township of Amabel (Gamsby and
Mannerow Limited, 1973)

The study examined the feasibility of providing complete
sewage works facilities to service the built-up areas of
Sauble Beach. Possible health hazards and potential
loss of tourist trade were identified as key concerns. A
high ground water table and heavily loaded soils in
densely populated section of the beach did not permit
adequate residency within the soil mantle, the report
claimed. In problem areas, it was recommended that
sanitary sewers be considered.
Continued...
The study examined options for sewage collection,
treatment facilities, pumping stations and trunk sewers.
The conceptual brief proposed that sewage from all
developed and vacant lots be collected by a sewer
collection system draining into a simple trunk sewer
along the lakefront with a service of lift stations to convey
the sewage along the length of the service area. Waste
stabilization ponds were proposed means of sewage
treatment with a design retention time of 30 days under
maximum daily flows. A revised sewage conceptual
design brief in 1974 outlined continuous discharge to
Lake Huron through a diffuser outfall instead of effluent
disposal by spray irrigation as indicated in the original
brief.
Reference: Environmental Study Report ­
March 2001
Sauble Beach Area Conceptual Brief ­
Proposed Provincial Water Treatment
Works and Distribution System ­
Township of Amabel (Gamsby and
Mannerow Limited, 1973)

The study examined the feasibility of providing water
treatment and storage facilities and a water distribution
system to serve the built-up areas of Sauble Beach. The
report indicated that lots were very small and the area so
densely populated that it is impossible, without
conflicting with local regulation, to locate both septic tank
tile beds and water supply on the same lot. Water
samples taken from drilled wells indicated that the water
was generally high in mineral content due to the nature
of the bedrock.
Continued...
Water wells in the area have a very low recovery rate
and a great deal of storage would have to be provided to
meet peak demands. The source of water proposed was
from Lake Huron with an intake located north of the
mouth of the Sauble River, where the lake bottom is
bedrock. A complete water treatment plant was
proposed using parallel units to facilitate partial
shutdown during low demand periods. Substantial
storage was proposed to ease peak demands, provide
fire flows and provide temporary supply during
emergency plant shutdown.

Reference: Environmental Study Report ­
March 2001
Sauble Beach Sewage System ­
Preliminary Report to the Township of
Amabel (MacLaren Engineers, 1984)

The study was initiated because of concerns that many
of the properties in the commercial core were of
insufficient size to permit conventional septic tank/tile
bed systems and that the bathing water quality along the
beach may be deteriorating. The importance of Sauble
Beach as a prime summer recreation and the increasing
number of seasonal cottage conversions to permanent
residences was acknowledged.

Continued...
An analysis and review of water quality data revealed no
positive connection between the beach water quality and
existing private sewage disposal systems. The report
outlined proposed service areas, alternative collection
and treatment systems. A preliminary cost estimate for
Phase 1 construction activities (to service the existing
commercial core along Main St. from Lake Huron to D-
Line, plus private campgrounds), with sewage collection
via lower pressure sewers to stabilization ponds for
treatment and direct discharge to Lake Huron, was over
$5.3 million (1984 dollars, not including land and legal
costs).

Reference: Environmental Study Report ­
March 2001
Groundwater Supply Study ­ Sauble
Beach, Township of Amabel
(Conestoga-Rovers & Associates, 1993)

The study was initiated in response to reported
interference due to pumping of a commercial well during
1988. Computer modelling was used to evaluate the
impact of groundwater extraction resulting from the
existing, approved and proposed development. In order
to maintain adequate and potable supplies of
groundwater to existing and approved developments
within the study area, the report concluded that it would
be necessary to regulate where future development can
occur.

Continued...
Development within specified recharge areas should be
discouraged and limited to minor infilling to provide an
adequate supply of potable water to down gradient well
users. A long-term monitoring program was
recommended to monitor regional groundwater levels.

Reference: Environmental Study Report ­
March 2001
EA and Funding Assistance for
Water/Sewage, Sauble and Hepworth
Evidence of Failure ­ limits on community economic development;
limits on property owners improvement to and enjoyment of their
properties; increased need for MOE approved disposal site for pump
outs of holding tanks; inability to meet housing needs of residents
Defined Problem Area ­ within Amabel Township municipal
boundaries, community physically and socially identified as Sauble
Beach; specific problem area in business core and older residential
portion which are higher density and undersized lots for private
servicing; area defined by: centered around Main St and Sauble
Falls Parkway, bounded by 6th Street and Bannister Drive south of
County Road No. 8, 3rd Street and Lindsay Street north of County
Road No. 8 (see map on next slide)
Existing Services Problem Area ­ existing water supply and sewage
disposal systems are private/individuals with one exception; one
communal water distribution system which supplies water to 30
residential parcels (27 connections); current demand is for
commercial and multiple residential rather than industrial uses

Continued...
Reference: Fenco MacLaren, July 1994
Executive Study ­ Environmental
Study Report
In 1995, the Township of Amabel and Village of
Hepworth jointly agreed to undertake a water and
sewage works study for the community of Sauble Beach
and the Village of Hepworth (Ministry of the Environment
Project No. 51-0063-01). RV Anderson Associates
Limited was retained to collect and analyze water data,
examine existing problems/opportunities and consider
water and sanitary sewage servicing concepts in
accordance with the Municipal Engineers Association
Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Water
and Wastewater Projects. A Phase 1 and 2 report was
issued in 1997 for public review.

Continued...
Following the amalgamation of the Township of Amabel,
Township of Albemarle, Town of Wiarton and Village of
Hepworth as the Town of South Bruce Peninsula, RV
Anderson Associates Limited was asked to carry out the
next steps (Phase 3 and 4) of the water and sewage
works study. The purpose of Phase 3 was to examine
alternative methods (design concepts) of implementing
the preferred municipal water and wastewater servicing
solutions, considering existing environmental conditions,
public consultation, anticipated impacts and mitigation
measures. This document was completed and
submitted to the MOE in June 2001.

Reference: RVA Water and Sewage
Works Study, 2001
Addendum #1 to the Sauble
Beach/Hepworth Water and Sewage
Works Study
The addendum contains details of the revised sewage works
extending from Sauble Beach to include Hepworth. The
recommended solution involves a sewage collection system in
Hepworth and transmission line along County Road 8 to the
proposed Wastewater Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) near Sauble
Beach.
The recommended works for Hepworth and vicinity would include
7,900m of 200mm diameter gravity flow sewers in Hepworth, lift
station, pumping station located east of the Sauble River, and
5000m of forcemain. This wastewater servicing component would
be added to the previously identified collector sewers and low-lift
pumping station in Sauble Beach, forcemain and proposed WPCP
(with an increase in size of 674m3/day to a revised ultimate capacity
of 10,310m3/day). The total estimated capital costs are $39,800.00.
Assuming costs are shared among all lots in Hepworth and Sauble
Beach, as well as properties along County Road 8, the estimated
cost per connection would be approximately $9,300.00.
Reference: RVA Letter, October 31, 2003
In 2003 a joint document was prepared by South
Bruce Peninsula, Arran Elderslie and Brockton
to investigate a Bruce County water system.
The plan considered approximately 10,000
connections throughout the three municipalities
and a price of $131,000,000.00. No further
action ever came from the report and the
municipalities decided to update their own water
systems individually.
2006 Addendum #2 ­ Class EA
Water and Sewage Study
This document was prepared by Henderson Paddon and
Associates. The intent of Addendum #2 was to refresh
the 2001 EA completed by RV Anderson (MOE
requirement to refresh EA every 5 years) and to finalize
site selections for sewage treatment facility.
This document is available on the Town of South Bruce
Peninsula website www.southbrucepeninsula.com
Our most recent estimate for the preferred water supply
alternative is $31.67 million and the preferred
wastewater system is $46.8 million
Approximately $7,000 per water connection and $11,000
per sewer connection
Recent Water Quality Data
At the request of the MOE, the Town of
South Bruce Peninsula agreed to take
samples of ditch water in Sauble Beach
These ditches were being tested by Henderson
Paddon to determine the potential impact of
communal water supply on existing septic beds.
The samples were tested for E. Coli, Total
Coliform, Background Count, and Heterotrophic
Plate Count (HPC). These samples are relevant
because the water in running ditches can be
assumed to be similar to the water contained in
shallow groundwaters nearby. The water in
these wells is essentially surface water
contained in the sand above denser material
below. If the nearby surface water is highly
contaminated, the water in the shallow aquifer is
likely to be contaminated as well.

Continued...
Table 4.1 shows the results of this examination
of the ditch water for Sauble Beach. It can be
seen in this table that all of the ditches sampled
have elevated levels of E.Coli and Total
Coliform. None of the samples have E.Coli less
than 10 cfu/100mL or Total Coliform less than
1,470 cfu/100mL. The maximum E.Coli level
sampled is 700 cfu/100mL, and the maximum
Total Coliform sample is 26,000 cfu/100mL.
These levels are extremely high given that there
is no other obvious source of these
contaminants other than surrounding septic
beds.
Continued...
The results of the ditch samples are considered
unsafe in several respects. If these samples
were taken at a public beach, the beach would
be posted (or closed) for having E.Coli levels
greater than 100 cfu/100mL. This would
indicate that there was a risk of being affected
with minor skin, eye, ear, nose and throat
infections and stomach disorders, and
swimmimg would be discouraged. It may be
assumed that if the water is unsafe to swim in,
then it is also unsafe to bathe in. Obviously,
none of these water samples meet the Ontario
Drinking Water Standards, and would require
significant treatment to disinfect the water in
order to drink it.
Continued...
Reference: HPA Addendum 2 ­
June 2006
In Closing...
For several decades the former Township
of Amabel and now the Town of South
Bruce Peninsula have continually
attempted to obtain funding to provide
municipal services to Sauble Beach and
the surrounding area. It is apparent that
the issue is complex, controversial and
has a substantial financial impact.
In Closing...
Currently the Town has completed the
Environmental Assessment and submitted
the document to the MOE and the public
for comment.

From this process we have received three
Part Two bump up orders or appeals to
the process and or document.
In Closing...
The Town staff and our engineers will
meet with the appellants in an attempt to
clearly understand and respond to the
concerns they have listed.

Prior to meeting with the concerned
parties, Town staff and our consultants
wish to confirm Council's position on
providing sewer and water services to
Sauble Beach.
Thank You
Bill Jones
Manager of Public Works