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Why was this BUI originally listed as impaired?
- In the 1991 Stage 1 Remedial Action Plan (RAP) Report, the Beach Closings BUI #10 was identified as impaired due to elevated levels of bacteria in some of the Canadian locations along the Detroit River.
- In particular, sites downstream of Little River, Windsor sewer overflow sites, Turkey Creek and the Amherstburg Waste Water Treatment Plant exceeded acceptable levels outlined by the Provincial Water Quality Guidelines.
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This BUI will be considered to be ‘not impaired’ when….
The frequency of beach closures due to elevated counts of E. coli in the Detroit River (White Sands Conservation Area and McKee Park) does not exceed the frequency at upstream (Sandpoint) and downstream (Holiday) reference beaches.
What was done?
- Monitoring of beach water quality: The Windsor Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) monitors 9 swimming beaches throughout Essex County. Their sampling is conducted weekly between June and September, but only 1 of 9 beaches falls within the Detroit River AOC.
- 2007-2011 Sampling: To support the assessment of AOC locations, the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) collected samples at two additional sites, McKee Park and Sandpoint Beach, on behalf of the DRCC. The DRCC subsequently reviewed and compared E. coli data from McKee Park and White Sands Conservation Area with data from reference beaches, Sandpoint Beach and Holiday Beach, monitored by WECHU.
- 2008: Upgrades to the Lou Romano Water Reclamation Plant
- 2011: Separation of combined sewers and construction of a combined sewer overflow retention treatment basin
- 2012: Upgrades to the Amherstburg Wastewater Treatment Plant
- 2014: Construction of the underground Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Retention Basin (RTB) on Riverside Drive in Windsor, which captured 476 million litres (ML or megalitres) of combined stormwater and sewer overflows that would have previously discharged directly into the Detroit River without any treatment.
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