Residents of a small Halifax-area community are upset they were not consulted about a new seniors’ housing complex that pumps treated sewage into the lake from which they draw their drinking water.
The proposed “age-in-place campus,” which includes four residential buildings and a long-term care facility, is expected to be built at 1109 Fall River Rd., with wastewater from the planned on-site treatment facility diverted underground by mid- Thomas Lake.
Thomas Drive, known locally as Lake Thomas Park, is home to 11 families who draw their drinking water from the lake through a small filtration system. Several community members said they were concerned about the sewage’s impact on their water supply.
Lindsay Hamilton hears about the sewage leak from a Fall River resident. (Dylan Jones/CBC)
Lindsay Hamilton has lived in the community for 15 years. She has known about the development for several years, but only recently found out about the location of the sewer outlet.
No one has come to us and talked to us about whether we are using the water for drinking,” she said. “Someone missed something.”
The Department of Environment and Climate Change said new treatment facilities do not require community consultation. The department ensures that such systems meet provincial standards and regulations.
This graphic shows the approximate locations of the discharge pipe planned for the new construction and the intake pipe that supplies the homes on Thomas Drive. (CBC News Graphics)
Hamilton said the community has drawn water from the lake for more than 40 years. She does not want to connect to city water or build a well system because of new construction in the area.
“We have water supplies,” she said. “We feel like it’s being taken away from us.”
“I can’t afford another water system”
Thomas Swain is president of the Lake Thomas Park Association and maintains the community’s water filtration system. He said that when he found out that the planned discharger was about 200 meters from the entrance to the system, he was furious.
“I can not understand [how] the government or anyone can decide to do what they do when there is potable water,” he said.
Swain said the province rejected his community’s original design for its septic system, instead requiring them to build an approved one that cost the community $150,000.
“There’s a lot of people here still paying for it,” he said. “We can’t afford another water system.”
Thomas Swain shows the water filtration system the community uses for its drinking water. (Dylan Jones/CBC)
Swain said he doesn’t understand why a similar septic system couldn’t be built for the development instead of sewage flowing into the lake.
Ron Pachal of Vision 7 Developments said the proposed facility complies with provincial standards and is the best option for the project. “For a project this size, I don’t know if you could even do a septic system,” he said.
Fall River Coun. Cathy Deagle Gammon said since the project was originally proposed, it has “transformed” from about 300 units to 500, plus between 100 to 150 long-term care beds.
“I really think having a long-term care facility in our community is an asset,” Deagle Gammon said.
In March, community members appealed the site plan approval for the complex to the Northwest Community Council. However, the Community Council rejected the appeal 5-1. Deagle Gammon was the only councilor who sided with the residents.
Cathy Deagle Gammon represents District 1 – Waverley-Fall River-Musquodoboit Valley on Halifax Regional Council. (Dylan Jones/CBC)
Hamilton said he understands that housing is badly needed in HRM, but worries about what will happen if the sewer system breaks down.
Pachal said the planned treatment facility would be computer monitored and equipped with backups to protect against failure.
“We’ve looked at wastewater plants in Canada, the U.S., Europe,” Pachal said. “People just have to feel comfortable with this system that we’re putting in place.”
Work on the site is expected to begin in the coming months.
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