|
1. RURAL WATER AND WASTEWATER
PLANNING – PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CITY OF OTTAWA GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT
STRATEGY PLAN D’APPROVISIONNEMENT EN
EAU EN MILIEU RURAL ET DE GESTION DES EAUX USÉES – CHANGEMENTS PROPOSÉS À LA
STRATÉGIE DE GESTION DES EAUX SOUTERRAINES DE LA VILLE D’OTTAWA
|
Committee recommendation
That
Council that the City of Ottawa Direct Staff
to consider the following points in the upcoming Ottawa Groundwater Management
Strategy and Development Work Plan to address the Clean Water Act:
1.
That the common
denominator in all water initiatives be reliance on private services (well
water and septic), not geographic location;
2.
That clean water
initiatives be extended uniformly to all privately serviced neighbourhoods,
including those within urban boundaries;
3.
That aquifer and
watershed studies involve all residents relying on private services, in both
rural and urban areas;
4.
That City-wide
wellhead protection and zoning by-laws apply uniformly to all privately
serviced residents in both rural and urban areas;
5.
That well water
sampling be extended to all privately serviced neighbourhoods in both rural and
urban areas; and
6.
That the
appropriate budgetary funds be set aside for the implementation / enforcement
of the proposed initiatives in both rural and urban areas.
And
provide a progress report to the Rural Issues Advisory Committee and the
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee in September 2007.
Recommandation
du Comité
Que le Conseil enjoindre le personnel de tenir compte des aspects
suivants dans la prochaine Stratégie de gestion des eaux souterraines de la
Ville d’Ottawa et dans le Plan des travaux d’aménagement, afin d’être conforme
à la Loi sur l’eau saine :
1. Que
toutes les initiatives relatives à l’eau aient pour dénominateur commun le
recours à des services privés (eau de puits et fosse septique) et non
l’emplacement géographique;
2. Que
les initiatives sur l’assainissement de l’eau soient appliquées uniformément à
tous les quartiers raccordés à des services privés, incluant ceux situés à
l’intérieur des limites de la Ville;
3. Que
les études sur les aquifères et les bassins versants englobent tous les
résidents raccordés à des services privés, tant en milieu rural qu’en milieu
urbain;
4. Que les règlements municipaux sur le zonage et
la protection des têtes de puits soient appliqués uniformément à tous les
résidents raccordés à des services privés, tant en milieu rural qu’en
milieu urbain;
5. Que
les analyses de la qualité de l’eau de puits soient étendues à tous les
quartiers raccordés à des services privés, tant en milieu rural qu’en milieu
urbain;
6. Qu’un
financement suffisant soit prévu pour la mise en œuvre/l’application des
initiatives proposées, tant en milieu rural qu’en milieu urbain.
En septembre 2007, fournir un rapport d’étape au Comité consultatif sur
les questions rurales et au Comité de l’agriculture et des questions rurales.
Documentation
1.
Rural Issues Advisory Committee report dated 10
May 2007 (ACS2007-CCV-RIA-0004).
Report to/Rapport au:
Agriculture
and Rural Affairs Committee
and Council / et au Conseil
Submitted by/Soumis par: Rural
Issues Advisory Committee
Le Comité
consultatif sur les questions rurales
Contact Person/Personne- ressource
: Marc Desjardinss,
Coordinator / Coordonnateur,
Rural
Issues Advisory Committee / Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales
(613)
580-2424 Ext / poste, 28821 / Marc.Desjardins@ottawa.ca
REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Rural Issues Advisory Committee recommend that
to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee recommend and
Council that the City of Ottawa Direct Staff
to consider the following points in the upcoming Ottawa Groundwater Management
Strategy and Development Work Plan to address the Clean Water Act:
7.
That the common
denominator in all water initiatives be reliance on private services (well
water and septic), not geographic location;
8.
That clean water
initiatives be extended uniformly to all privately serviced neighbourhoods,
including those within urban boundaries;
9.
That aquifer and
watershed studies involve all residents relying on private services, in both
rural and urban areas;
10.
That City-wide
wellhead protection and zoning by-laws apply uniformly to all privately
serviced residents in both rural and urban areas;
11.
That well water
sampling be extended to all privately serviced neighbourhoods in both rural and
urban areas; and
12.
That the appropriate
budgetary funds be set aside for the implementation / enforcement of the
proposed initiatives in both rural and urban areas.
And provide a progress report to the Rural Issues Advisory Committee and
the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee in September 2007.
RECOMMAENDATIONS
DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité consultatif sur les questions
rurales recommande auque le Comité de l’agriculture et des
questions rurales et fasse la recommandation au personnel du Conseil municipal de tenir compte des
aspects suivants d’apporter les modifications suivantes àdans la prochaine Stratégie
de gestion des eaux souterraines de la Ville d’Ottawa et dans le Plan des travaux d’aménagement, afin d’être
conforme à
la Loi sur l’eau saine :
1.
Que
toutes les initiatives relatives à l’eau aient pour dénominateur commun le
recours à des services privés (eau de puits et fosse septique) et non
l’emplacement géographique;
2.
Que
les initiatives sur l’assainissement de l’eau soient appliquées uniformément à
tous les quartiers raccordés à des services privés, incluant ceux situés à
l’intérieur des limites de la Ville;
3.
Que
les études sur les aquifères et les bassins versants englobent tous les
résidents raccordés à des services privés, tant en milieu rural qu’en milieu
urbain;
4.
Que les règlements municipaux sur le zonage et
la protection des têtes de puits soient appliqués uniformément à tous les
résidents raccordés à des services privés, tant en milieu rural qu’en
milieu urbain;
5.
Que
les analyses de la qualité de l’eau de puits soient étendues à tous les
quartiers raccordés à des services privés, tant en milieu rural qu’en milieu urbain;
6.
Et finalement qQu’un
financement suffisant soit prévu pour la mise en œuvre/l’application
des initiatives proposées, tant en milieu rural qu’en milieu urbain
dans les communautés rurales et semi-rurales.
En
septembre 2007, fournir un rapport d’étape au Comité
consultatif sur les questions rurales et au Comité de
l’agriculture et des questions rurales.
At the
request of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee (RIAC) Member A. Warda, the RIAC
discussed the above-noted subject at its October 17, 2006 meeting.
Ms. Warda asked that the matter be placed on the RIAC agenda so that members may discuss historical and current groundwater management policies and practices as well as groundwater management in rural and in urban areas of the City. To assist in the discussion, she prepared a Well Water and Waste Management Backgrounder, attached as Document 1 to this report.
The City of Ottawa’s Groundwater Management Strategy, approved by City Council in May 2003 (ACS2003-DEV-POL-0013), provides both a framework and an action plan directed to ensuring that the use of the groundwater resource is sustainable.
In September 2006, Planning,
Environment and Infrastructure Policy staff presented
an information report to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and
Council providing an overview of the
City’s rural water and wastewater planning activities, including the
Groundwater Management Strategy (ACS2006-PGM-POL-0067).
In discussing the matter on October 17, 2006, Ms.
Warda provided an overview of her objectives in raising
the matter for discussion and her concerns with respect to the current City of
Ottawa Groundwater Management Strategy. In closing, she proposed the following
motion to amend the City of Ottawa Groundwater Management Strategy, which was
unanimously supported by RIAC members:
That the Rural Issues Advisory Committee
recommend to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Council that the
City of Ottawa Groundwater Management Strategy be amended to reflect the
following:
·
That the common denominator in all water
initiatives be reliance on private services (well water and septic), not
geographic location;
·
That clean water initiatives be extended
uniformly to all privately serviced neighbourhoods, including those within
urban boundaries;
·
That aquifer and watershed studies involve
all residents relying on private services, in rural and in urban areas;
·
That City-wide wellhead protection and zoning
by-laws apply uniformly to all privately serviced residents in both rural and
urban areas;
·
That well water sampling be extended to all
privately serviced neighbourhoods; and
·
That the appropriate budgetary funds be set
aside for the implementation / enforcement of the proposed initiatives in both
rural and semi-rural areas.
Staff in the Rural Affairs Office as well as
Planning, Transit and the Environment were consulted in the preparation of this
report. The following represents their
comments on the implications of the report recommendation.
Rural Affairs Office (Lead Department)
While the areas in question are
not in the rural area, the Rural Affairs Office recognizes that these areas are
facing similar challenges as our rural villages and should have similar levels
of support from government. It should
be noted that the inclusion of these areas for municipal clean water programs
will create additional demand on resources within these programs. This should
be taken into consideration to ensure that the rural areas, which were the
initial target of these programs, are not adversely impacted.
Planning, Transit and the Environment
PTE will consider the recommendations in on-going
groundwater management planning and in the City's response and
participation in the implementation of the Clean Water Act. An
update report will be brought forward in September.
FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS
N/A
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 Well Water and Waste Management Backgrounder,
prepared by RIAC Member A. Warda
Document 2 Extract of Minutes from the October 17,
2006 RIAC meeting
DISPOSITION
The Committee Coordinator will inform the Rural Issues Advisory Committee of the Standing Committee and Council decision on the recommendation.
Well Water and Waste
Management
Backgrounder
Until
the amalgamation, all privately serviced lots were managed the same way
regardless of their location (rural or urban), common denominator being the
reliance on well water and waste disposal system (septic/holding).
Septic:
§
From 1955 to 1977 septic systems were regulated
by the Public Health Act and administered by local health units.
§
From 1977 to 1998 septic systems became
regulated under the Environmental Protection Act and were the responsibility of
local Conservation Authorities or Health Units.
§
The service Improvement Act of 1997 transferred
responsibility for smaller self-contained systems (less than 10,000 litres per
day) to the municipalities under Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code. This
function was delegated to the newly established Ottawa Septic System Office.
Current status: The zoning by-law does not permit new
installations within the urban boundaries (only replacements). All newly
constructed developments are required to be connected to city services. This is
not strictly enforced and infills in the privately serviced areas are allowed
to remain on the septic. This issue was raised during the current round of
re-zoning and remains unresolved.
Problems: Infill lots are
usually an outcome of severance that reduces lot size. The lots often are too
small to accommodate a sewage disposal system and special engineering solutions
are then sought to comply. Objections that such actions increase the
possibility of pollution are countered with statements that the new development
is usually connected to city water. No impact statements on neighbouring wells
are ever conducted. Although water characterization studies (when conducted)
clearly point out to septic effluents as a major polluting component, nothing
is being done to prevent more pollution.
Water:
Privately
serviced residents were regulated by the province and included in the
provincially-run programs (i.e. Rural Well Upgrading Program).
First, the province ran out of money and then when Ottawa amalgamated the well
owners became city responsibility.
Current status:
Rural and semi-rural (urban based) residents are receiving different treatment
with regard to the well water. Everyone within the urban boundaries is excluded
from any improvement programs and other water related initiatives. The well
owners are not included in the aquifer studies, watershed management and are
not afforded any wellhead protection under the zoning by-law.
Problems:
Common
denominator for city consideration is where the well is located (urban v. rural). In principle, official city
position is that no new development should be allowed unless connected to both
services (water/sewer). However, this position is flexible when it comes to
severance in semi-rural areas
(regardless of environmental concerns). Semi-rural residents within the urban
boundaries are excluded from:
§
Improvement
grants: Program exclusions are based on the assumption
that everyone within the urban boundaries should be connected to city sewer and
water. However, the city has no short or long term plans to connect residents
to city services. Furthermore there is a strong objection from residents
preferring semi-rural living. Most city planners are not aware about the
existence of privately serviced areas and not familiar with their particular
concerns or requirements.
§
Watershed,
aquifer, groundwater characterization studies: Staff
responsible for water management does
not have any plans, budget resources etc. for semi-rural communities located
within urban boundaries. It is perceived that since such communities do not pay
sewer or water fees, the use of existing funding be discouraged and new funding
sought under the Clean Water Act initiatives. Zoning by-law cannot be modified
to protect wellheads because without the comprehensive aquifer studies it is
not known where the wellheads are located.
Restrictions
and regulations are applied inclusively regardless of well location.
facts to date
The
issue was raised at the Rural Summit and some promises were made to deal with
it. Province already agreed to allow the semi-rural parts of Ottawa to qualify
for rural economic development funding.
Privately
serviced urban residents made the presentation to the Planning and Environment
Committee (March 28, 2006) and were assured that both rural and urban well
owners will be treated equally. The issue was to be followed up by the ARAC.
Action needed
Put
forward the motion recommending that:
§
The
common denominator in all water initiatives should be reliance on private
services (well water and septic) not the place of residence.
§
Clean
water initiatives will be extended uniformly to all privately serviced
neighbourhoods (including those in the urban boundaries).
§
Aquifer
and watershed studies involve all residents relying on private services (in
rural and urban areas).
§
Citywide
wellhead protection and zoning by-laws apply uniformly to all privately
serviced residents in both rural and urban areas.
§
Well
water sampling should be extended to all privately serviced neighbourhoods.
§
The
appropriate budgetary funds are set aside for the implementation of the
proposed initiatives in both rural and semi-rural areas.
Rural Water and Wastewater
Planning - discussion
aménagement des installations d’eau potable et usées
en milieu rural – discussion
Member A. Warda
Member Warda spoke to this item,
referencing the Backgrounder she had prepared, which had been circulated to
Committee members and is held on file.
She noted that a report had recently been presented to the Agriculture
and Rural Affairs Committee on this topic but that it had not outlined an
implementation plan. She proposed a
motion for the RIAC’s consideration, as outlined at the end of her Backgrounder.
Committee members discussed the
matter briefly with Member Webster suggesting that the last bullet of the
motion (as outlined in the Backgrounder) be amended to add “/enforcement”
immediately after the word “implementation”.
Member Warda accepted this as a friendly amendment.
The Committee Coordinator
requested clarification on the intent of the motion. Member Warda confirmed that her objective was to have the City of
Ottawa Groundwater Management Strategy amended to include the points outlined
in her motion.
Moved by Member A. Warda
That
the Rural Issues Advisory Committee recommend to the Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee and Council that the City of Ottawa Groundwater Management
Strategy be amended to reflect the following:
·
That the common
denominator in all water initiatives be reliance on private services (well
water and septic), not geographic location;
·
That clean water
initiatives be extended uniformly to all privately serviced neighbourhoods,
including those within urban boundaries;
·
That aquifer and
watershed studies involve all residents relying on private services, in rural
and in urban areas;
·
That City-wide
wellhead protection and zoning by-laws apply uniformly to all privately
serviced residents in both rural and urban areas;
·
That well water
sampling be extended to all privately serviced neighbourhoods; and
·
That the
appropriate budgetary funds be set aside for the implementation / enforcement
of the proposed initiatives in both rural and semi-rural areas.
CARRIED
Action: The Committee Coordinator to forward the RIAC motion to the ARAC
through a Committee report.
Que le Comité
consultatif sur les questions rurales recommande au Comité de l’agriculture et
des questions rurales et au Conseil municipal d’apporter les modifications
suivantes à la Stratégie de gestion des eaux souterraines de la Ville d’Ottawa
:
·
Que toutes les
initiatives relatives à l’eau aient pour dénominateur commun le recours à des
services privés (eau de puits et fosse septique) et non l’emplacement
géographique;
·
Que les initiatives
sur l’assainissement de l’eau soient appliquées uniformément à tous les
quartiers raccordés à des services privés, incluant ceux situés à l’intérieur
des limites de la Ville;
·
Que les études sur
les aquifères et les bassins versants englobent tous les résidents raccordés à
des services privés, tant en milieu rural qu’en milieu urbain;
·
Que les règlements municipaux sur le zonage et
la protection des têtes de puits soient appliqués uniformément à tous les
résidents raccordés à des services privés, tant en milieu rural qu’en
milieu urbain;
·
Que les analyses de
la qualité de l’eau de puits soient étendues à tous les quartiers raccordés à
des services privés;
·
Qu’un financement
suffisant soit prévu pour la mise en œuvre/l’application des initiatives proposées dans les
communautés rurales et semi-rurales.
MOTION
ADOPTÉE
Mesure : Le coordonnateur du Comité doit transmettre la
motion du CCQR au CAQR sous forme de rapport.