To meet these targets with effluent going to the harbour would require some form of tertiary treatment. As capital costs in the hundreds of millions would be incurred, it is very important for the community to know if this is really required, and what the consequences would be of not proceeding. Here, the role of the scientific and technical community supporting the RAP will once again be very important in evaluating progress after interim targets have been met. These measures would prevent raw sewage from finding its way into the harbour during precipitation events. It will be the largest one in Ontario.
Local companies have three years to comply.
A comparison between loading requirements under MISA and under the RAP reveals that the MISA limits do not go as far as the RAP recommends. Although loadings of many contaminants from the industrial sector have decreased dramatically and companies have spent many millions of dollars to achieve reductions, it appears more will still be required. It will be a few years before municipal-sector improvements result in another noticeable improvement in water quality. However, there is continued movement in the right direction in this sector. The RAP is considering striking a committee or task group to summarize, evaluate and strategize about further industrial-sector loadings reductions.