Skip to main content Skip to footer

Bayshore Village Sewage Works Frequently Asked Questions

Bayshore Village Sewage Works

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

At the Special Council meeting held on June 3, 2024, the Council approved for staff to create a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to address residents' questions following the water and wastewater rate review completed in February 2024. 

If you wish a hard copy of the Frequently Asked Questions document, please contact staff using the information at the bottom of the page. 

Questions

Please be advised that the questions below are a revised rendition of the submitted questions. The background information above answers many of the questions submitted. As well, due to duplicity with the questions submitted, staff revised the questions in order to encompass the duplicity of questions submitted.

As part of the Bayshore Village Sewage Works Class Environmental Assessment, consultation with residents was conducted through a Public Information Centre on May 22, 2024. After the PIC, written comments were accepted until June 7, 2024 to be considered in the study. Tatham Engineering, the Township Engineers, will review feedback, choose a preferred solution, prepare a study report, and present it to the Council in the summer of 2024. At the meeting, the Council will decide on the solution and the allocation of funds for the chosen solution.

 

The expenditure will be capitalized according to the Tangible Capital Asset Policy which also determines the depreciation period for each asset type. This is in accordance to the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSSAB) requirement.

However, this is not related to the cost to the ratepayers.  A project of that value will have to be financed by a loan. The repayment of the loan will be part of the wastewater expenses therefore included in the fees paid by the wastewater users.

At the time, the Council decided to pursue the long-term solution of a tertiary sewage treatment plant. For the next five years, the Council worked hard on behalf of residents to advocate to multiple ministries, senior government staff, and politicians the value of eliminating spray irrigation and building a tertiary plant. Unfortunately, it was determined that a tertiary plant would not be allowed under the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. A further report from Tatham Engineering will be presented at a future Council meeting outlining alternative solution.

As per the Fees and Charges Bylaw 2023.42, Schedule “E”, the fee is $120 per 1000 gallons.

The fee was set to include a combination of those factors.

In 2017, the Bayshore Village Environmental Assessment was completed for the effluent spray irrigation system at the Bayshore Village Sewage Works. There were two solutions proposed by the Township’s Engineers, Tatham Engineering: a short term solution and a long term solution. At the time, the Council decided to pursue the long-term solution of a tertiary sewage treatment plant. For the next five years, Council worked hard on behalf of residents to advocate to multiple ministries, senior government staff, and politicians the value of eliminating spray irrigation and building a tertiary plant. Unfortunately, it was determined that the establishment of a new municipal sewage treatment plant is prohibited under Policy 4.3-DP of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan.

 

The costs associated with the Bayshore Village Environmental Assessment cannot be determined as financial systems have changed over the past 14 years.  Each year, Council approves a budget that funds capital projects and operational expenses that sustain services and service levels for Ramara Township. The outlines investments in Capital Planning and Infrastructure, including water and wastewater upgrades.

Since the initiations of the Bayshore Village Sewage Works Effluent Spray Irrigation Class EA in 2010, there have been several discussions, presentations and reports to Council regarding the 2017 Class EA. As legislatively required, there were two public information open houses scheduled in 2011 and 2016 respectively. Since 2017, there have been numerous staff reports and presentations in regards to the progress of the Bayshore Village Project Class EA, including additional efforts such as inflow and infiltration.

 

Each year, Council approves a budget that funds capital projects and operational expenses that sustain services and service levels for Ramara Township. The outlines investments in Capital Planning and Infrastructure, including water and wastewater upgrades. The budget process is an open public meeting where residents can examine the budget and provide questions to staff or council.  As well, since 2021, staff have developed Council Highlights and Budget Highlights to help inform residents of information that comes from Committee of the Whole and Council meetings. 

The Infrastructure Department delivers many services to residents of Ramara Township including:

  • Supplying drinking water
  • Collecting and treating sewage
  • Operating and maintaining roads, storm sewers, bridges and culverts
  • Maintaining parks, beaches, and playgrounds

The Infrastructure Department works in partnership with the Ontario Clean Water Agency for the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Township’s water and wastewater systems. 

Studies guide the overall planning of systems throughout the Township, including the water supply system, the sanitary sewer system and the roads network.

Most projects will go through various stages from start to finish.  We study a variety of issues to determine the most appropriate method to address them. The design stage of a project involves the development of construction contract drawings and tender documents for the construction or implementation of a project. This stage often includes the architectural, engineering and business case components. The construction stage is also the implementation stage of the project, where the process of building or assembling the project begins.

Plans for capital works extend over a 10 year period and updated on a yearly basis.  Budgets are prepared and approved by Council every year, typically in the fall for the following year.  Annual budgets can be found on the Township’s website.  

 

Corporate Projects utilize all staff (Directors, Treasurer, CAO) using various resources and tools.

The cost of the Brechin/Lagoon City Sewer project is revoved through a charge represented of the Development Charges. Development Charges are the fees collected at the time property is developed to cover the cost of infrastructure and services that we provide, such as roads, municipal water and sewer. Last month, Ramara Council approved Area-Specific Development Charges for Bayshore Village and Brechin and Lagoon City.

 

Development Charges are implemented following studies that are presented and approved by Council.  Notices are made public in respect with the legislation.  Development Charges revenues are used in compliance with the studies and legislation and are reviewed yearly through the Audit process.

 

The Development Charge presentation by Hemson serves as a comprehensive guide, outlining how development charges will be instrumental in supporting the infrastructure costs required for development.

View more information related to Development Charges

 

Since 2011, there has been three rate studies completed.

 

  • 2015 Water and Wastewater Rate Study (conducted in 2014)
  • 2021 Water and Wastewater Rate Study (conducted in late 2020)
  • 2024 Staff-Led Water and Wastewater Rate Study

 

As indicated in the 2011 plan and subsequently after, water and wastewater rates are reviewed every five years or sooner if indicated.

There was no updates during that time period to provide as the EA was not moving forward until the Township decided on the best course of action for the spray fields. Since 2017, there have been many reports to Council on the proceeding with the 2017 EA; however, no decision was determined. As well, residents has had access to agendas and minutes and in 2020 staff started to prepare Council highlights and created a new website to help with access to information.

There is no bylaw currently in place for how to fund sewer facilities. The EA for the newly purchased land is a continuation of the existing EA.

At the time, it was not known if the land was needed. The Township was working on the EA and looking at options for a tertiary treatment plant which were unsuccessful.

In the 2024 Draft Budget, the CCBF fund was allocated to the Bayshore Village project. Through discussions, Council approved to decrease the project costs for 2024 from 1M to $350,000 and utilize the fund. When adopting a budget, only the current year portion of the cost in included in the Budget.  If the project is scheduled on more than one year, the yearly cost is included in each’s year Budget.  The remaining of the CCBF amount stayed in the CCBF reserve Fund as prescribed in the Funding Agreement.  In 2024, $643,000 of CCBF is also used to fund Road infrastructure.

No. All used municipal roads and bridges were not negatively affected by the haulage of effluent and the daily truck traffic. Township infrastructure is designed to withstand the weight of the trucks and the load, and township staff monitor the situation daily.

There are 2 by-products of sewage treatment.  There is effluent water and sewage sludge.  The term sewage sludge refers to the solids that are settled out at various points in the wastewater treatment process.  At the Lagoon City sewage treatment plant, those solids are then treated physically and chemically to produce a product known as biosolids.  Biosolids are considered a Category 3 NASM under the Nutrient Management Act and can be used as fertilizer on agricultural land.

Since sewage sludge is continually produced at the treatment plant, it must be managed.  Management options can be classified into two broad categories – beneficial use options or disposal options. The Township of Ramara’s current management approach for biosolids is sent for use through land application.

Before biosolids can be spread on agricultural land, it must be tested for nitrogen, phosphorus, 11 regulated metals and E.coli concentration.  If any one of the metals or E.coli exceed regulated levels, the material cannot be land applied.

Any person applying biosolids must be licensed and have a valid NASM plan issued by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).  The NASM plan ensures that any land applied biosolids are of benefit to crops, do not degrade the natural environment and doesn't pose any harm to human or animal health. 

The Lagoon City sewage treatment plant generates, on average, 1000 m3 of biosolids each year.  Wessuc Inc. is contracted to remove the biosolids from the treatment plant on an annual basis to land apply on sites with an approved NASM plan.

OMAFRA notifies the local municipality when a NASM plan is approved for an application site in their jurisdiction, however we are not necessarily notified when the NASM is being applied.

There are agricultural operations within the Township of Ramara that are approved to receive biosolids.  The biosolids can come from other municipal sewage treatment plants outside the Township.

There are a number of land application standards and rules that ensure NASM is land applied in an environmentally responsible way. This includes required practices and limits on where, when and how much NASM can be applied in a particular situation. While these are legal requirements, they are also best management practices that allow the farmer to use biosolids while protecting the land and water from potentially harmful environmental impacts.

Ontario Regulation 267/03, under the Nutrient Management Act, provides the rules for the storage, sampling, analysis and land application of biosolids.

Contact Us

Corporation of the Township of Ramara
2297 Highway 12, PO Box 130, Brechin, ON, L0K 1B0

T. 705-484-5374
E. ramara@ramara.ca

 

Sign up for our eNewsletter

Stay up to date on the Township's activities, events, programs and operations by subscribing to have notifications sent directly to your inbox. 

This website uses cookies to enhance usability and provide you with a more personal experience. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Privacy Policy.