GRAND RIVER LIFE CONTINUES TO PAY THE PRICE OF OVERABUNDANCE OF HUMANITY

The article in yesterday's Waterloo Region Record titled "Will Grand River's "dead zone" revive?" written by Leah Gerber, was excellent. The "dead zone" is in specific reference to freshwater mussels, not to all life in the river. It turns out from recent firsthand eyewitness accounts that there actually was even some life in the Canagagigue Creek (Elmira) in the 1950s and 60s, contrary to my understanding for many years. That being said I already knew that that particular stretch of the Grand River, immediately below the Kitchener Sewage Treatment Plant (aka wastewater treatment plant), was in bad shape. This was due to my son's fieldwork while studying biology (Master's degree) at Wilfred Laurier University just a few years ago. I mean seriously most if not all STPs have a so called "mixing zone" immediately downstream of their outlet into whatever surface water body they discharge into. In theory the "mixing zone" does not extend the entire width of the river and in theory it does not extend for kilometres downstream. In theory. You will also find that government sampling of the STPs discharged effluent is often past the mixing zone. Who says that our authorities still don't believe that "Dilution Is The Solution To Pollution". Ha! They are just smart enough not to tell us. .................................................................................................. There is no doubt that the $250 million spent on the Kitchener STP was money well spent. There is also no doubt that as the population continues to grow, even more money will be required to keep pace with treatment of increased human waste. Of course politicians are constantly on the outlook for legacy projects to hang their hats and reputations on. Afterall how many politicians that you know want a Sewage Treatment Plant named after them? It is a constant source of amusement to me up here in the wilds of Elmira when I drive past Seiling Drive just outside of Elmira (north) knowing that the former Woolich dump is located on a road named after our long time regional chair. I think you get my point. It is far easier for local/regional politicians to spend money on ION trains than on say state of the art sewage treatment PRIOR to "dead zones" appearing in our heritage Grand River. ................................................................................................................ Besides "dead zones" for mussels there was the huge issue of feminization of fish. This was due to human birth control pills and other pharmeceuticals getting flushed down toilets. Guess what? Neither Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) nor drinking water treatment plants can remove all chemicals from the water. Just look at the Annual Water (drinking) Report issued each spring from the Region of Waterloo. There are maybe 40 to 50 common chemicals, pesticides etc. listed that have been tested. That's it, out of literally hundreds of known chemical contaminants in our air, soils and water (ground & surface water). Libraries, arts and culture expenditures, high tech mass transit and so much more are "sexy". Water treatment whether drinking water or sewage is not "sexy" and regional councillors whose only talent is getting elected are not the best arbiters of which budget items require trimming and which require expansion. Here's a currently much less controversial suggestion: Let's take $25 million each year away from the Waterloo Regional Police budget and stipulate that it goes towards increasing the water treatment budget here in Waterloo Region. I believe that would help both the health of human beings and the health of the environment.