Stormwater Quality Retrofit Study Environmental Assessment

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study Master Plan

The Town of Ajax initiated a Municipal Class Environment Assessment Study Master Plan to assess local influences of stormwater discharge that presently lacks water quality control on nearshore areas of Lake Ontario.

Background

For several years, poor water quality along the Ajax Waterfront has resulted in beach postings and limit public use.  The Town investigated sources of contamination and explored remedial measures in the interest of restoring water quality along the nearshore areas to reduce beach postings and subsequently enhance recreational opportunities along the waterfront for the public.

The Town has partnered with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Ministry of Environment, University of Waterloo, Ontario Power Generation, and Regional Municipalities of York and Durham to study the physical, biological, and chemical processes of the nearshore ecosystem to develop an understanding of the overall dynamics that influence water quality along the Ajax Waterfront.  As part of these ongoing studies, Stantec Consulting Ltd. was retained to explore stormwater management (SWM) retrofit opportunities and potential for implementing new management practices for southern Ajax lands, which are generally bounded by Highway #401 (north), Carruthers Creek (east), Lake Ontario (south), and Duffins Creek (west).

The SWM (Retrofit) Master Plan included fourteen (14) storm sewersheds, which predominantly consist of commercial/industrial and low density residential uses that are currently not equipped with end-of-pipe or distirbuted SWM controls.  Stormwater effluent from these uncontrolled stormsewer systems are believed to be contributing to observed elevated levels of Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Phosphorous (TP), and Escherichia coli (E.coli), which are creating higher levels of turbidity, promoting algae growth, and influencing beach postings along the Ajax waterfront.

Related Documents

• Notice of Study Commencement and Public Information Centre
• Notice of Completion

Class Environmental Assessment Master Planning Study - Final

• Class Environmental Assessment (EA)
  • Appendix A: Baseline Terrestrial and Aquatic Report
  • Appendix B: Stage I Archaelogical Assessment
  • Appendix C: Consultation Supporting Documents
  • Appendix D: SWM (Hydrologic/Hydraulic) Calculations
• Conceptual Design Brief 

 The following information was presented at a Public Information Centre held on March 4, 2010:

• Sewershed Map
• Public Information Centre Presentation
• Public Information Centre Panels
• Sewershed 1, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 - Evaluation & Recommendations
• Questions and answers raised at the Public Information Centre
• Comment Sheet (March 19th deadline)

Contact Information

For more information, please contact:

Kevin Tryon, C.E.T.
Manager of Engineering - Development Approval
Town of Ajax
65 Harwood Ave. S.
Ajax, ON L1S 2H9
905-619-2529, ext. 3215