Toronto Water has completed a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) study for the Don River and Central Waterfront Project.   The Class EA study addresses the issue of stormwater and combined sewer overflows, which are discharged to the Don River and Central Waterfront during wet weather events, resulting in the degradation of water quality and impacting our environment.

Building on the recommendations of the City’s Wet Weather Flow Master Plan (approved by City Council in 2003), the Class EA study has defined the problems/opportunities, identified and evaluated alternatives, and determined a preferred solution and design in consultation with the public, review agencies, and other stakeholders.   The Class EA study recommends new infrastructure to intercept and treat polluted stormwater and combined sewer overflows before they discharged to the Don River, Inner Harbour, and Taylor Massey Creek.  The recommended solution also addresses sanitary servicing needs by integrating improvements to the City’s sanitary trunk sewer infrastructure and wet weather flow controls into one complete system.  When fully implemented, the project will achieve significant improvements in water quality in the lower Don River and Inner Harbour, and provide for safety of operation for the City’s critical sanitary trunk sewer infrastructure.

The Environmental Study Report (ESR), which documents the findings and recommendations of the Class EA study is being placed on the public record for a 45-day review period from August 10 to September 24, 2012.  The ESR (pdf. files) will be available on the study website at www.toronto.ca/cleanwaterways starting on August 10, 2012.  The ESR (hard copies) will also be available for public review starting August 10th at various libraries throughout the study area.

More information about the Don River and Central Waterfront Class EA study is available on the City’s website at  www.toronto.ca/cleanwaterways.
If you have any questions about the Class EA study and/or the 45-day public review process,  please contact James Yacoumidis at jyacoum@toronto.ca or 416-392-8834.